Deep Cuts: Matthew Kluk on Julia Margaret Cameron

Discover hidden gems and diverse voices from our collection. Each month, we highlight works that push boundaries, defy expectations, and inspire deep thinking. You might find a new favorite!

This week, join Curatorial Assistant in Photography Matt Kluk as he explores three portraits by Julia Margaret Cameron, which are included in Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein. Cameron took up the camera at the age of forty-eight, converting a chicken coop into a photo studio and enlisting friends to pose as figures from myths and legends. Critics of the time were openly hostile to her unorthodox methods, yet she persevered.

Kluk has served as a curatorial assistant in the photography department at SFMOMA since 2015. He focuses on the development and exhibition of the permanent collection. He has contributed substantially to a number of projects including Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein and Carolyn Drake: Wild Pigeon both of which are currently on view. Prior to joining SFMOMA, Kluk held positions at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA; the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA; and the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.