Focal Point: The David Hall Photography Collection

Focal Point: The David Hall Photography Collection presents 40 works from the holdings of Tampa-based collector and photographer David Hall. With over 400 works in the collection, the pictures on view present a sample of the photographers and images David admired as a lifelong photo enthusiast. The collection shares the story of photography in the 20^th century as the medium evolved from historical documentation to an admired form of visual art. David was interested in the history of photography and held a special passion for photographs made between World War One and World War Two, a transformative period in art.

This intimate exhibition is loosely organized by the themes prevalent in the David Hall Collection. Many of the images on view represent iconic works from the photographers’ oeuvre, such as Ruth Orkin’s American Girl in Italy, Young Farmers by August Sander, and Ansel Adams’ Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Print publications, such as LIFE magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue, employed and championed trailblazing photographers such as Richard Avedon, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and Philippe Halsman, who shot memorable moments of the 20^th century.

The David Hall Collection also includes important works by Group f/64, the California collective of photographers who forged a new aesthetic in opposition to the dominant photographic trends in New York. Pictures by Adams, Ruth Bernhard, and Edward Weston represent the “pure photography” style of Group f/64. A small group of works by David’s San Francisco-based photographer friends—such as Judy Dater, Richard Hartman, Polly Gaillard, and Lisa Law—allude to his own time spent in California.

Women, either as the photographer or subject, represent a significant number of works in the collection. As highlighted by the works on view in Focal Point, women photographers created groundbreaking bodies of work. Berenice Abbott, Diane Arbus, and Lillian Bassman were at the forefront of artistic innovation at a time when women did not receive the same recognition or support as their male counterparts. Portraits of women—ranging from the muse, the nude, the artist, or the sister—reveal the sitters’ sense of confidence, resilience, joy, and grace, as well as their ease in the
company of the photographer.

About David Hall

David Hall (1944 – 2024) was an arts advocate, philanthropist, music enthusiast, photographer, and collector. A Tampa native, David graduated from Plant High School and the University of South Florida. The San Francisco Bay Area was a second home to David, who spent numerous years living between California and Florida with his partner Judy Tampa. David loved cameras from an early age and studied photography at UC Berkeley with Judy Dater. He simultaneously took pictures and collected photography, but focused on the latter more intently when he returned to Tampa permanently. David was one of the co-founders of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) and a supporter of arts organizations, including the Tampa Museum of Art. Focal Point: The David Hall Photography Collection pays tribute to David, his legacy, and contributions to Tampa’s arts community.

Exhibition Sponsored in part by:

The Frank E. Duckwall Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Supporting Sponsor:

Anderson Bucklew Charitable Foundation