CAFAM Photography Collection

The convention of photography collection in art museums began to be an important way of writing history with photography in the second half of the 19th century. After 2000, Chinese art museums gradually consciously got involved and played a non-negligible role in collection, exhibition, research, guidance and promotion of photography. Based on recording, imaging and artistic aesthetic functions of photography, adhering to "concept of the original work", emphasizing photography’s ontological characteristics, and consciously establishing a complete professional standards and knowledge system is an important subject for public museums to explore photography’s role in history.

CAFAM has always adhered to this position and attitude, based itself on Chinese mainland and the characteristics of the photographic media, and emphasized art, humanities, history, science and technology, and the attitudes, positions and values involved in contemporary culture and society. CAFAM also introduces classic and current international photographic resources to build an international exchange platform and constructs CAFA relevant disciplines. And CAFAM, as one of the Chinese art museums that attach most importance to photography, hopes to inspire more art museums to pay attention to photography through our efforts.

At present, CAFAM’s photography collection covers classic works of famous photography artists such as Marc Riboud，Shigeo Anzai, Agnes Varda, Roger Ballen， Hiroji Kubota and Weng Naiqiang，as well as works of outstanding young artists with experimental exploration spirit and times characteristics.