25 years, 133 cultural icons: A private portrait series makes its public debut
UC Berkeley’s Magnes Collection unveils 133 unpublished portraits by late photographer Nancy Lee Katz, donated by her partner after her death, offering intimate views of cultural icons from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Maya Lin.
A new exhibition at UC Berkeley’s Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life presents the first public display of photographer Nancy Lee Katz’s 25-year project, "Pantheon," featuring 133 black-and-white portraits of influential American cultural figures. The collection, donated posthumously by Katz’s partner Michael S. Sachs, includes subjects such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, architect Maya Lin, and artist Roy Lichtenstein. The exhibition opens September 2 and will be displayed in two parts through 2027.
Guest-curated by Lauren Graves, the exhibition highlights Katz’s ability to capture her subjects in relaxed, intimate settings, often framing them within their own creative environments. Portraits such as Louise Bourgeois standing beside a suspended mannequin and Ruth Bader Ginsburg reading atop a step stool reflect Katz’s skill in blending playfulness with authenticity. Graves noted that Katz’s work reveals the person behind the public persona, offering a rare glimpse into their private spaces and personalities.
The exhibition’s curation relied on conversations with Katz’s partner and the images themselves, as Katz never exhibited or published her work during her lifetime. Sachs, Katz’s life partner, explained that she prioritized the artistic process over public recognition, focusing on the relationship between subject, image, and photographer. The portfolio joins the Magnes Collection’s 60,000 objects documenting Jewish life globally, including works by Roman Vishniac and a range of fine art and everyday artifacts.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage further by listening to archival speeches, musical recordings, and exploring books by and about the portrayed figures. A roundtable discussion featuring Sachs, Graves, and others will be held on September 2 at the museum. The exhibition will be on view in two parts, with the first running until December 17, 2026, and the second from January 19 to May 13, 2027, accompanied by gallery tours and public programs throughout the academic year.