(1950-2017)
Arlene Gottfried was a New York City street photographer celebrated for her intimate and vibrant portrayals of life in the city’s working-class neighborhoods. Born in Brooklyn to a Jewish immigrant family, she grew up in Coney Island and Alphabet City, environments that nurtured her ability to connect with diverse communities. Introduced to photography by her father, she later studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked as a photographer for publications like The New York Times Magazine, Life, and The Village Voice.
Gottfried’s photography gained recognition later in life with five acclaimed books, including The Eternal Light (1999), Midnight (2003), Sometimes Overwhelming (2008), Bacalaitos and Fireworks (2011), and Mommie: Three Generations of Women (2015), which earned Time Magazine’s Best Photobook Award in 2016. Her work is part of prestigious collections such as the Brooklyn Museum, the New York Public Library, The New York Historical, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.
The artist exhibited internationally at venues like Paris Photo and the Smithsonian Institution. Beyond photography, Gottfried was a gospel singer with the Eternal Light Community Singers.
Arlene Gottfried passed away in 2017 at age 66, leaving behind a legacy of photographs that remain a compelling record of New York City’s humanity and diversity.
