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National Museum of Women in the Arts

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.

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.