Invisible to Whom? Selections from the Robert A. Sengstacke Archive
Black Metropolis Research Consortium
University of Chicago’s Regenstein Library
February 12 through June 30, 2025
In response to Ralph Ellison’s 1952 novel Invisible Man, author Toni Morrison posed a profound question: “Invisible to whom?” Morrison challenged the idea of the Black protagonist’s “invisibility,” arguing that it reflected a worldview shaped by white supremacy. This exhibition rejects the white gaze, celebrating the powerful and profound connections that emerge when Black people see and affirm one another.
Robert A. “Bobby” Sengstacke (1942–2017) was a prolific photographer who devoted over half a century to chronicling Chicago’s cultural and political landscape. Best known for his work with the newspaper, The Chicago Defender—where he also served as editor—Sengstacke was pivotal in visually documenting the city’s Black community. This selection of photographs reflects his deep compassion and tenderness for his people, inviting us to reimagine what it means to see and be seen in a racially stratified world, while underscoring the power of controlling our own narratives and representations.
Curated by Rashieda Witter, this exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, Chicago Defender Charities, UChicago’s Visual Resources Center, the Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.
Digital Exhibit: https://bmrc.lib.uchicago.edu/portal/exhibits/invisible-to-whom-selections-from-the-robert-a-sengstacke-archive/
Information for Your Visit:
Regenstein Library
1100 E. 57th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
Mon- Thursday 8am – 12 midnight; Fri 8am -11pm; Sat 9am-11pm; Sunday 9am to 12 midnight
Free and open to all
https://bmrc.lib.uchicago.edu/
For more information, contact: Rashieda Witter, rashieda@uchicago.edu
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