Light Work serves as a vessel for artists to tell stories that go beyond the photos

Since 1973, Light Work has worked to support up-and-coming and underrepresented photographers in central New York. Located right in the heart of Syracuse University’s campus, Light Work helps artists find work opportunities in the area. Through artist residencies, exhibitions, projects and publications, there are a plethora of options for artists to find their way. 

The non-profit organization works heavily with grants to give artists opportunities they may not have gotten otherwise. Each year, Light Work awards five $3,000 grants to New York-based photographers.

Light Work associate director Whitney Hubbs said the organization wants to help in any way it can.

“We’re just here to support their goals and dreams, honestly. It’s a really great opportunity for everyone,” Hubbs said.

Since its introduction to Syracuse, Light Work has featured over 400 exhibitions across its multiple galleries. Its main space, the Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery, holds four exhibitions each year. Putting on these exhibitions is no easy feat. They take immense amounts of time to plan out and execute. 

“It takes three to five months to finalize a show, followed by production, which takes about another month and a half,” Hubbs said.

She said the group has shows planned through fall 2028.

Their current exhibition, titled museum, opened in late August. The installation was a collaborative effort between artists Susannah Sayler, Ed Morris, and Christina Seely. 

The photographs used for this collection were crafted in 2014 during the deconstruction of the National Fossil Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. However, they didn’t revisit these photos again until 2025, which is when Hubbs said they saw these pieces with a new understanding. 

They wanted to tell a story deeper than just the photographs.

“It represents time as a whole. A museum is a sight for muses. It’s always ever-changing and evolving. That’s what this show is doing. It’s like peeling off a layer.” Hubbs said. 

She further explained that integrating humor was a big priority for the artists in this show. Though they convey more direct and serious messages through their art, humor can sometimes be the best way to explain their sentiment. 

That being said, there is more than one way to look at this exhibition. Syracuse student Abigail Green says she sees these pieces in a different light. “It kinda feels oddly modern while still being historic.” 

To go along with photographs, the gallery also displays sketches that nearly match what’s going on in the photos. 

Green believed the sketches enriched the value of the photos themselves. “The sketches show the process behind the photos in a way. It gives clarity of where it came from.” She thought. 

With so much going on worth telling a story about right now, sometimes the best way to tell it is through art. The goal of Hubbs and Light Work is to do just that. Museum will be on display at Light Work until Dec. 11.