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Two women standing and smiling in front of a framed painting in a gallery. One has curly gray hair, wearing a patterned skirt; the other has straight brown hair, wearing a sleeveless top.
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Ruth Orkin

View of the museum from outside showing the Neoclassical building from one corner. The building is a tan-colored stone with an arched doorway, long vertical windows, and detailed molding around the roof.
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Ruth Orkin: On the Scene
Posted: September 15, 2021
Category: Ruth Orkin
Celebrated photographer Ruth Orkin (1921–1985) told stories in a single frame. Today, 100 years after her birth, a recent publication and works from NMWA’s collection illuminate her singular career.
Ava Gardner, a woman with light skin tone and wavy, short brown hair, is shown from the shoulders up. She wears a jeweled necklace and is surrounded by lights and people at a party. She looks to the side of the camera at something out of frame with a fixed gaze and slight smile.