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ARTS & CULTURE

Text and photos courtesy of the Momentary

Best in Show: Pets in Contemporary Photography, A Celebration of Furry Friends, Opens at the Momentary

Best in Show: Pets in Contemporary Photography opens at the Momentary in Bentonville this month. Through Best in Show, Momentary visitors will have the opportunity to explore the role furry (and feathered) friends have played in culture and how they stand in as representations of status, power, loyalty, compassion and companionship through the perspectives of 25 global artists. Works on view will include pieces by William Wegman, famed for his portraits of his Weimaraners; Walter Chandoha, the world’s first professional cat photographer; and Sophie Gamand, known for her touching, sensitive photographs of dogs taking baths.

 

Organized by Fotografiska New York, Best in Show celebrates and acknowledges constant companions, their presence in Western art and popular culture, and their multifaceted relationships with humans.

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Winnie Au; Clementine, 2020; Inkjet print; 39 3/8 in. x 59 in.; 
© Winnie Au

Best in Show is a heartwarming exhibition filled with moments of surprise, joy and engagement. The show features diverse artworks that showcase playful interactions between pets and humans, evoking laughter and warmth. There are a variety of pieces that illustrate the historical and contemporary roles of pets. Guests will be able to experience Best in Show on a more personal level through hands-on engagements and events, including a pop-up adoption event with Best Friends Animal Shelter and a Puppy Bowl Watch Party.

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Best in Show is on view at the Momentary from Nov. 23 through April 13, 2025. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

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Left: Winnie Au; Collagio, 2017; Inkjet print; 39 3/8 in. x 29 1/2 in.; © Winnie Au
Right: Dolly Faibyshev; Double Pomeranian, 2012; Inkjet print, studio enhanced; 25 1/2 in. x 39 3/8 in.;
© Dolly Faibyshev

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Left: Tim Flach; Topiary, 2010; Inkjet print; 29 1/2 in. x 59 in.; © Tim Flach
Right: Hellen van Meene; Untitled, 2011/2012; Inkjet print; 27 1/2 in. x 27 1/2 in.; © Hellen Van Meene
 

For more information, visit www.themomentary.org.

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