Photographer Milton Rogovin dead at 101

Today I called Gage Gallery curator Michael Ensdorf to interview him about  the upcoming photography exhibition "The Working-Class Eye of Milton Rogovin." You can imagine my surprise when Ensdorf told me Rogovin, who's known for his iconic black and white portraits of laborers, passed away yesterday morning.

Rogovin lived an incredibly full life, as evidenced by Ensdorf's beautifully curated exhibition (photographs culled with the help of Roosevelt University historian Erik Gellman). The 70 photos include unusual archival prints of Rogovin’s landscapes, street scenes and haunting interiors that reveal the photographer’s four-decade documentation of Buffalo, New york, Appalachia and other communities.

According to Endsdorf, “Rogovin embraced all people—he was a warm, loving man who had a deep relationship with his subjects.”

The exhibit opens tomorrow, Thursday, January 20 at 5pm. The photographer’s son, Mark Rogovin, will discuss his father's work.

Gage Gallery, Roosevelt University, 18 S Michigan Ave (312-341-3500, roosevelt.edu/gagegallery). Regular hours: Mon–Fri 9am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; free.