The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents The Message is Clear: A Mentored Photography Exhibition, on view at City Gallery from Feb. 20 through May 3, 2026.
The exhibition features work by nine photographers—Toyia Brown, Rush Dixon, Ben Egelson, Kirsten Hoving, KELA, Grace Kreider, Jackie Levesque, Rome, and Vito—who participated in an intensive mentorship with internationally renowned photographer Nigel Parry. Through two in-person sessions, Parry challenged each artist to define and refine the message behind their work, culminating in a collaboratively curated body of photographs that reflect clarity of vision and artistic purpose.
Featuring both emerging and established artists, The Message is Clear highlights photography that is intentional, thoughtful, and shaped through rigorous dialogue and critique.
The exhibition is made possible with support from Redux Contemporary Art Center, which printed all selected works. An opening reception will be held Friday, February 20 from 5–7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
About the Mentor
Nigel Parry is an internationally acclaimed photographer whose work spans editorial, fine art, and commercial photography. His images have appeared in Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, and Rolling Stone, and are held in the collections of the National Portrait Galleries in Washington, DC and London. Parry previously exhibited at City Gallery in 2024.
About the Artists
The participating artists represent a wide range of practices and perspectives—from landscape and portraiture to multidisciplinary and analogue processes, each unified by a commitment to intentional storytelling and clarity of message.
About City Gallery
City Gallery, located at 34 Prioleau Street in Joe Riley Waterfront Park, is owned by the City of Charleston and operated by the Office of Cultural Affairs. The gallery presents contemporary art from local, regional, national, and international artists, with a focus on the Lowcountry. Gallery hours are noon–5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit www.charleston-sc.gov/