The Gordon Parks Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, marking two decades since the founding of the organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of photographer and artist Gordon Parks. Executive Director Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr. reflects on the foundation's growth, including exhibitions, museum partnerships, publications, and fellowships that support emerging artists. The foundation was co-founded by Parks and Kunhardt's grandfather, Phil Kunhardt, in 2006. As part of the anniversary, the foundation is publishing a new edition of "Gordon Parks: Diary of a Harlem Family, 1967/1968" and will realize three gallery exhibitions, starting with "We Shall Not Be Moved" at Alison Jacques Gallery in London, curated by Bryan Stevenson.
This anniversary matters because it highlights the foundation's success in elevating Parks from being seen primarily as a photojournalist for Life magazine to a respected figure in the mainstream art world. The foundation's strategy, advised by Thelma Golden of the Studio Museum in Harlem, focused on deep, scholarly exhibitions rather than broad retrospectives, helping to build a market for Parks's work. The foundation's continued support for artists and writers whose practices align with Parks's legacy ensures his impact on documenting racism, poverty, and the civil rights movement remains relevant for future generations.