Cultural Affairs Office

Press and Communications

February 3, 2020 -- The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) and Houston Public Library (HPL) are excited to celebrate photographer Earlie Hudnall, Jr. and the Fourth Ward community. Hudnall’s work will be on display at City Hall through March and there will be an artist talk open to the public at 3 p.m. on February 26, 2020.

Earlie Hudnall, Jr. was selected by the Texas Commission on the Arts as the 2020 Texas State 2-Dimensional Visual Artist. His career has centered on documenting the lives of individuals in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Wards of Houston.

Hudnall’s photographs have been exhibited widely in museums and art galleries throughout the country. His photographs are included in major museum collections, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC.

Through the photography of Earlie Hudnall, Jr., an intimate view of the beauty and pride of Americans in the Fourth Ward can be seen. The exhibit, Moments, Memories and Voices: Let Us Remember poses the question: What happened to Fourth Ward? It creates a space for all Houston residents to look at themselves, listen to voices of the past and present and engage one another in reflecting on a shared future.

“Sharing and learning about the history, culture and connections of Houston’s neighborhoods deepens our understanding of the city we call home and who we are,” stated Debbie McNulty, MOCA Director.  “The Fourth Ward continues to evolve and understanding the culture of this neighborhood through the works of a talented photographer is one of the many ways our office promotes communities across the City.”

“The Houston Public Library is honored to support the significance of cultural and historical observances that reflect the broad diversity of our city through the arts," said HPL Director, Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson. "It is fitting that the renowned photography of Earlie Hudnall, that so richly captures images of life in African American communities in Houston, is prominently displayed as we celebrate African American History Month.”

Explore the historic City Hall, view the exhibit and join us for an artist talk with Earlie Hudnall, Jr. at 3 p.m on February 26th.

About Houston Public Library
The Houston Public Library (HPL) operates 35 neighborhood libraries, four HPL Express Libraries, a Central Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, The African American Library at the Gregory School, and the Parent Resource Library located in the Children’s Museum of Houston.  With more than eight million visits per year in person and online, HPL is committed to excellent customer service and equitable access to information and programs by providing library customers with free use of a diverse collection of printed materials and electronic resources, Internet, laptop and computer use, and a variety of database and reference resources with live assistance online 24/7.

About The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs develops policies and initiatives that expand access to arts and cultural programs in the community, attract visitors and leverage private investment. Learn more Learn more at www.houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs and follow us on Facebook & Instagram @HoustonMOCA. Find fun stuff on Houston’s Cultural Events Calendar.