Artists who teach shape more than just their own creative practice—they shape the very future of the medium itself. Through their mentorship, they cultivate not only technical skill but also curiosity, resilience, and vision. PHOTO / FACULTY brings together the work of fifty-three photography faculty members from fourteen institutions in Boston and beyond, highlighting the often-overlooked duality of educators as both working artists and mentors. While dedicated to guiding students in refining their voices and building their careers, these faculty members also sustain rigorous creative practices of their own.

As a graduate student in the Photography Department at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, I experienced firsthand the profound impact of faculty mentorship. My professors not only challenged and expanded my artistic practice but created an environment where I could thrive. Their guidance helped me refine my ideas with both criticality and confidence, explore new processes, and develop a clearer artistic vision. My time at MassArt reinforced my deep appreciation for educators who balance their own creative inquiry with the responsibility of fostering emerging artists.

This exhibition offers a glimpse into the creative lives of those who shape and sustain photographic discourse. From conceptual explorations to documentary storytelling, experimental techniques to traditional processes, PHOTO / FACULTY celebrates the immense breadth of contemporary photographic practice. Faculty artists live in a space of constant duality—creating, teaching, guiding, and learning all at once. Their influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping not only individual artists but the broader photographic community.

To teach is to preserve the past while building the future. Photography is an evolving language, and those who dedicate themselves to teaching ensure its continued relevance, depth, and innovation. Their impact is not always immediately visible, but it lives in the images their students create, in the ideas they ignite, and in the conversations that extend beyond the walls of academia.

PHOTO / FACULTY acknowledges these educators as both creators and cultural contributors, recognizing their profound impact on students and the field at large. As the PRC continues its mission to support and celebrate photographic artists, this exhibition underscores the vital connection between education and artistic production—a relationship that sustains the medium itself.