Photographers in the Pier 24 Photography collection show the many ways humankind has left an indelible mark on Planet Earth, from the devastation caused by the Dust Bowl of the early 1930s to the clearing of natural land for suburban dwellings.

Witness the incredible impact of human life upon the Earth through the influential photographers from the Pier 24 collection.

The Land

Cities have drawn the attention of photographers since the medium’s invention. Concepts of community, modernity, identity, and the artist’s gaze are explored in these images, set against the backdrop of American urban architecture.

Explore images of urban environments from the early 1900s through the present day.

The City

Age, gender, and identity are essential themes in the Pier 24 Photography collection. Works by Richard Avedon, Ruth Bernhard, Lee Friedlander, and Catherine Opie explore the complexity of the human experience.

Discover photographs that show the incredible beauty, frailty, and complexity of the human body.

The Body

Many of the artists featured in Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation seek to address the complexities of the human condition by capturing an array of self-reflective figures from all over the globe, from France in the 1930s, Mali in the 1960s, and Southern California in the 1990s.

Discover notions of personal identity as explored through myriad images in the Pier 24 Photography collection.

The Self

The photographers in the Pier 24 Photography collection show the many ways in which identities are formed and communities are constructed through politics, family, sports, hobbies, work, religion, and more.

Explore images of unique communities formed through work, sports, politics, and family.

The Community

New York

SVP, Global Head of Department, Photographs

Emily Bierman

Vice President | Senior Specialist

Aimee Pflieger

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank">ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</a>

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events &amp; news.

Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations will be offered at Sotheby’s New York 11-18 December, the final auction in this highly successful single-owner sale series celebrating one of the most significant collections of photographs to ever come to auction. This December auction takes inspiration from Pier 24’s 2022 exhibition Looking Forward, which featured photographers whose work expresses the complex beauty, emotion, and conflict of the human condition as experienced in the 21st century, as well as how humans influence and are influenced by their environment. The auction also addresses these complex facets of contemporary life as shown through the lens of notable photographers. All lots will be sold without reserve.