Pauline Adamek
The Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles – PAC LA – is a nonprofit organization that creates unique collaborative programming, engaging and educating the community in an evolving public conversation about photography and photo-based art.
In honor of the visionary women who helped shape the organization during its first decade, PAC LA launched Year of the Woman earlier this year—a major new public initiative celebrating the contributions of women in fine art photography—with the support of Eastman Museum Los Angeles.
This ambitious, citywide series is unfolding throughout 2025 and into early 2026, offering free, public events that shine a spotlight on the women who have influenced, expanded, and transformed the field of photography. Year of the Woman is not just a tribute—it’s a call to gather, to learn, and to engage in meaningful conversations about the power of representation, leadership, and legacy in the photographic arts.
PAC LA is thrilled to build an entire year of flagship programming around this vital theme. Each event will highlight a different aspect of women’s impact on the field, from collectors and curators to gallerists, conservators, and groundbreaking artists.
The series continues on August 9th with The Female Gaze: Women Photo Gallerists in Los Angeles, a panel discussion held at Nazraeli Press, located inside The Reef, a downtown creative hub that brings together artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. The event will feature pioneering gallerists Tarrah von Lintel, Theresa Luisotti, and Rose Shoshana—figures who have helped shape the city’s art landscape and champion photography as a central medium. Moderated by journalist Jori Finkel, who has long chronicled Los Angeles’s evolving art scene, the conversation promises to spotlight influential voices and foster meaningful dialogue.
In the fall, the focus will shift to the voice of the artist, with a keynote presentation on Saturday, September 13th by celebrated photographer Susan Meiselas, whose work has influenced generations. American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre in Santa Monica will host An Afternoon with Susan Meiselas.
As the holidays approach, audiences will be invited to join an intimate online visit with women working behind the scenes as photo conservators—unsung heroes who ensure the survival of photographic history.
To conclude the series in early 2026, PAC LA will present a special event spotlighting some of the most influential women curators of photography in the United States. Their insights and experience will offer an inspiring look at the role of curatorial vision in shaping public understanding of photography as an evolving, powerful art form.
Dates for all programs will be announced on the PAC LA and Eastman LA websites: paclosangeles.com and eastmanla.org and through Instagram accounts @photographicartscouncil_la and @eastmanmuseumla. Some event details are available below.
This is more than a celebration—it is a moment to amplify voices, acknowledge impact, and spark inspiration for the decade ahead. Join the organizers for Year of the Woman and be part of a vibrant, inclusive conversation about photography’s past, present, and future.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Public, in-person or online events (all free to the public). NB – Some dates may shift.
Sat. 8/9
The Female Gaze: Women Photo Gallerists in Los Angeles
Please join PAC LA for a panel discussion, at the Nazraeli Press space at The REEF LA in Downtown Los Angeles
Nazraeli Press – 12th Floor
1933 South Broadway 12th Floor, Suite 1266 Los Angeles, CA 90007
Saturday, August 9, 2025, 1:00pm
Get Tickets (free event – but capacity is limited, so advance registration is highly recommended).
Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles (PAC LA), with the support of Eastman Museum LA, is pleased to present its third event in the Year of the Woman series, The Female Gaze: Women Photo Gallerists in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 1:00pm. This dynamic panel discussion will feature three esteemed gallerists who, working over the past thirty years, have come to define the Los Angeles photo scene: Tarrah von Lintel, Theresa Luisotti, and Rose Shoshana. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Jori Finkel, who has chronicled the city’s expanding art market for multiple news outlets.
Sat. 9/13
An Afternoon with Photographer Susan Meiselas
American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre, in Santa Monica
Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 2:00pm
FREE and open to all
The Aero Theater | Get Tickets | VIP Sponsorship inquiries
Thurs. 9/25
Online Artist Conversation w/ Cecilia Paredes hosted by Hannah Sloan
Instagram Live @ 3:00pm
Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 3 – 4pm PDT
Fri. 10/24
3rd annual “A Picture A Minute”
online @ 4:00
(DETAILS TBA)
Sat. 12/6
Woman Conservators
(DETAILS TBA)
Feb. date in 2026 TBD
Woman Curators
(DETAILS TBA)
PAC LA is proud to welcome Eastman Museum Los Angeles as a sponsor of Year of the Woman.
Eastman Museum Los Angeles
Eastman Museum Los Angeles is a recently launched venture of the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York—with the mission of contributing to arts, culture, and education in Los Angeles. The George Eastman Museum is a cultural, educational, and historical institution established in 1947 and recognized worldwide for its collections that include photographic objects, films, technology objects, a vast library, and archival materials related to photography, cinema, and the life of George Eastman. Eastman LA plans to open a museum venue in Los Angeles and is continuing to search for an appropriate space. The venue will present exhibitions related to photography, moving images, and technology—making the George Eastman Museum collections accessible to a larger audience while creating a new space for contemporary photography and visual culture in Los Angeles.
Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles: A Hub for the Art of Photography
The Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles (PAC LA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to advancing the appreciation and understanding of photography as an art form. Driven by a deep passion for the medium, PAC LA invites artists, collectors, scholars, students, and the broader public to engage with photography in meaningful and thought-provoking ways.
A Decade of Dedication
For over ten years, PAC LA has served as a platform for dialogue and exploration within the photographic arts. What began as an advisory council to one of the nation’s largest museums has grown into a leading independent resource for the arts community in Los Angeles and beyond. Throughout its evolution, PAC LA has remained focused on fostering connections between photography and the cultural life of the city.
An Independent Voice in the Arts
As an independent organization, PAC LA operates outside institutional boundaries, providing a flexible and responsive space for artists and audiences to connect. This independence allows for diverse programming that reflects the complexity of contemporary photography and its relationship to history, society, and personal expression.
A Connected Community
PAC LA brings together a broad and inclusive network of people who are passionate about photography. Artists, curators, museum professionals, educators, gallerists, collectors, and art lovers all find a place within the PAC LA community. Through collaboration and shared inquiry, the organization cultivates relationships that lead to unique programs, exhibitions, and learning experiences.
Engaging and Active
PAC LA offers a wide range of public and member-only events, both in person and online. Its calendar includes artist talks, gallery visits, museum tours, panel discussions, film screenings, and photo-focused travel. These experiences are often developed in partnership with other notable arts institutions, reinforcing PAC LA’s role as a connector within the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. The organization also publishes a monthly digital newsletter that shares insights, opportunities, and upcoming events—available free to all subscribers.
A Mission to Educate and Inspire
At its core, PAC LA is committed to education, engagement, and access. Through its programming, the organization supports a deeper understanding of photography’s rich history and contemporary relevance. Audiences are encouraged to explore how images shape perception, identity, and social awareness. PAC LA offers opportunities to hear from leading voices in the field, engage with the work of emerging and established artists, and participate in discussions that move the photographic conversation forward.
Giving Back Through Community and Support
Service and support are fundamental to PAC LA’s mission. Through volunteer initiatives, mentorship programs, grants, and strategic partnerships, the organization empowers its members and collaborators to contribute to the next generation of photographers, scholars, and socially engaged image-makers. These efforts reflect a commitment to making photography accessible, relevant, and impactful for all.
Join the Conversation
Whether you are a seasoned collector, a practicing artist, a student of the arts, or someone newly curious about photography, PAC LA welcomes you. From neighborhood events and online talks to international travel and scholarly engagement, the organization offers countless ways to get involved. Join PAC LA and discover the richness of photographic culture in Los Angeles—and far beyond.
Learn more at PAC LA website and become part of a growing community that celebrates photography as a powerful, evolving art form.
