Founded in 1932, Group f/64 staked a claim for photography as an autonomous art form, with aesthetics that embraced its innate mechanical properties. Led by Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, this informal association of Bay Area photographers expanded the medium beyond a painterly, pictorial style toward images of rich clarity, crisp graphics, and dramatic tonal depth. The career of Richard Misrach represents another watershed moment for photography. Beginning in the 1970s, Misrach used color and large-scale formats to contrast the beauty of the Western landscape with evidence of its environmental decay. Revolutionary Vision sets these two important developments side by side, offering viewers a new context for assessing their relative achievements, in dialogue here for the first time.
 
On view at the Autry Museum of the American West from June 4, 2016, through January 8, 2017, Revolutionary Vision displays nearly 90 images drawn from the Bank of America Collection, which represents the work of f/64 and Richard Misrach in-depth. The exhibition also incorporates interactive photo booths that encourage visitors to experience the effect of different camera lens apertures.
 
“We are pleased to partner with Bank of America to exhibit so many masterworks of photography,” said W. Richard West, Jr., the Autry's President and CEO. “Showcasing the innovations of two generations of California-based artists, this exhibition includes memorable portrayals of the diverse and dynamic landscapes of the American West.”
 
Revolutionary Vision is provided by Bank of America’s Art in our Communities™ program. Through Art in our Communities, Bank of America has transformed its collection into a unique community resource for museums and nonprofit galleries.
 
“We’re proud to deepen our commitment to the arts by continuing our partnership with one of our local cultural treasures, the Autry Museum of the American West, by presenting Revolutionary Vision: Group f/64 and Richard Misrach Photographs From the Bank of America Collection,” said Raul Anaya, Los Angeles Market President, Bank of America. “At Bank of America, our support of the arts reflects our belief that the arts matter: they are a powerful tool that can provide pathways to greater cultural understanding that can help economies thrive, help individuals connect with each other and across cultures, and educate and enrich societies.”