Expanding the Walls

Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History and Community is an eight-month photography-based program for a select group of students enrolled in a high school or GED program. Participants work with a diverse group of arts professionals to explore issues related to community, history, and culture while learning the basics of photography in a regimen of art workshops, discussion groups, and field excursions. Expanding the Walls uses the work of renowned photographer James Van Der Zee as a catalyst for discussion and art-making.

Are you an Expanding the Walls alum? We would love to keep in touch with you! Send us an email.

Applications are now closed for the next cycle of Expanding the Walls.

For this 2023 Expanding the Walls cycle, we are accepting applications from teens who live or attend high schools or equivalency programs in Harlem and upper Manhattan neighborhoods, as well as the South Bronx.  

Participants receive a $1000 stipend and a Canon EOS Rebel DSLR camera. The program culminates with a celebration of the participants' work. 

Program dates: January 10—August 3, 2023
Meetings: Every Tuesday from 4:00 pm—6:30 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am—3:00 pm
Beginning July 5, the program will meet three times a week:
Tuesdays 10:00 am—3:00 pm
Wednesdays 10:00 am—3:00 pm
Thursdays 10:00 am—3:00 pm

All public school holidays and breaks are observed by the program

Expanding the Walls

Online Exhibitions

Capturing The Echo

Expanding the Walls 2022

The online photography exhibition Capturing The Echo: Expanding the Walls 2022 features work by the sixteen artists in the 2022 cohort of The Studio Museum in Harlem’s annual program Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History, and Community.

What Have We Stopped Hiding

Expanding the Walls 2021

The online photography exhibition What Have We Stopped Hiding: Expanding the Walls 2021 features work by the seventeen artists in the 2021 cohort of The Studio Museum in Harlem’s annual program Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History, and Community.

Hearts in Isolation

Expanding the Walls 2020

Hearts in Isolation presents work by fifteen artists in the 2020 cohort of Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History, and Community. During the eight-month program, participants from New York City–area high schools explore the history and techniques of photography. Hearts in Isolation is The Studio Museum in Harlem’s first online exhibition.

Expanding the Walls Participants

Expanding the Walls 2016

Expanding the Walls 2016 Participants

Grace
Amilcar
Alannis
Ariana
Chelsea
Giordalis
Richard
Dalen
Jibreel
Amber
Joyel
Ashley

Expanding the Walls 2015

Expanding the Walls 2015 Participants

Angelica
Saragine
Henry
Zainab
Amanda
Alana
Akash
Sterling
Nola
Tiera
Demettrius
Xiaoxuan

Expanding the Walls 2014

Expanding the Walls 2014 Participants

Brendly
D'Angelo
Kelvin
Andrew
Gilberto
Jesus
Christopher
Sarah
Justin
Gabriella
Steven
Maia
Atzimba
Alice

Expanding the Walls 2013

Expanding the Walls 2013 Participants

Arnell 
Hope 
Wesley 
Bryant 
Dautchley 
Kelvin 
Paulette 
Aviolah 
Nicholas 
Clifford 
Jeremy 
Totieyanna 

Expanding the Walls 2012

Expanding the Walls 2012 Participants

Shatasha 
Yasmine 
Breanna 
Oscar 
Zeus 
William 
Saeed 
Iliette 
Christian 
Joan 
Eduardo 
Elizabeth 
Nathalie 
Mariana 
André 

Expanding the Walls 2011

Expanding the Walls 2011 Participants

Amyrah 
Alexandra 
Trevin 
Edwin 
Victor 
Senetchut 
Sapphire 
Matthew 
Nadienka 
Genevieve 
Jamilla 
Neil 
Ellis 
Genesis 
Michael 

Expanding the Walls 2010

Expanding the Walls 2010 Participants

Natasha 
Melina 
Tiara 
Adeline 
Kaholy 
Juliet 
Stephanie 
Nicole 
Maya 
Fanny 
Natasha 
Nalijha 

Expanding the Walls 2009

Expanding the Walls 2009 Participants 

Aishah 
Jordana 
Adriana 
Marly 
Courtney 
Loodjie 
Kelsey 
Tiana 
Ashley 
Rakeisha 
Sasha 
Brandon 

Expanding the Walls 2008

Expanding the Walls 2008 Participants 

Alani 
Michelle 
Sofia 
Ivan 
Chanelle 
Christina 
Christeen 
Nicole 
Keisha 
Tempestt 

Watch | Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History and Community