The interactive reading room invites visitors to flip through photobooks created by women between 1843-1999. (photo courtesy of Getty)

Getty presents “What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843-1999,” an interactive pop-up reading room that provides a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with photobooks.

Open from April 8-May 11, the exhibition highlights more than 100 photobooks by women dating from 1843 to 1999 and a selection of contemporary photobooks by female Southern California photographers. Unlike traditional exhibitions, the hands-on experience encourages visitors to hold the books, read and flip through pages, immersing themselves in the creative narratives captured in each work. The unconventional project is part of an international series showcasing the works described in the 10×10 Photobooks catalog “What They Saw,” edited by Russet Lederman and Olga Yatskevich.

“This project is a testament to the depth and breadth of women’s contributions to the photobook medium,” said Mary Miller, director of the Getty Research Institute. “By revisiting these works, we’re not just celebrating their artistry – we’re ensuring that these voices remain an integral part of photographic history.”

Contemporary photobook artists based in Southern California include Uta Barth, Kristen Bedford, Lauren Bon, Kaucyila Brooke, Jo Ann Callis, Elena Dorfman, Christina Fernandez, Rose-Lynn Fisher, Judy Fiskin, Jona Frank, Lauren Greenfield, Soo Kim, Mona Kuhn, Diana Markosian, Melodie McDaniel, Catherine Opie, Sheila Pinkel, Alex Prager, Randi Malkin Steinberger and Deanna Templeton.

The Getty Library houses more than 1.5 million books, periodicals, photographs, archives and special collections, focusing on the history of art, architecture and archaeology. The library is open to the public and advances the understanding of the visual arts and their diverse histories.

The installation is curated by Isotta Poggi, associate curator at the Getty Research Institute, Marjorie Ornston, photography council member at J. Paul Getty Museum and 10×10 Photobooks co-founders Russet Lederman and Olga Yatskevitch.

On April 11, a panel on photobooks by women will feature artists Catherine Opie and Melodie McDaniel, with Lederman and Poggi, discussing the unique medium of the photobook and its potential for collaboration, storytelling, self-expression, identity and resilience.

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