National Geographic Photographer and Conservationist Paul Nicklen to Present “Reverence” Nature Photography Exhibition

Hilton Contemporary recently announced a specially curated exhibition of new and archival images drawn from the works of world-renowned photographer Paul Nicklen. The exhibition, titled Reverence, calls on viewers to cherish the planet with the respect and sacredness it deserves. Nicklen’s close, intimate portraits of wildlife bring viewers face-to-face with pumas, wolves, whales and more, revealing their roles as integral parts of an ancient order of life 4 billion years in the making.

Reverence will be spread across Hilton Contemporary’s two galleries in River North (716 N. Wells Street) and Bridgeport at the Morgan Arts Complex (3622 S. Morgan Street). The opening reception will take place Friday, September 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. at Hilton Contemporary River North. The exhibition is free and open to the public and will be on-view through Nov. 9, 2024.

Following the exhibition’s opening reception on September 6, Paul Nicklen and his partner and fellow photographer, Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, will be participating in the Printers Row LitFest, taking part in a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Alex Garcia at the Center Stage (on South Dearborn Street between Polk and Harrison) on Saturday, September 7 at 2 p.m. The talk will be followed by a book-signing for Nicklen’s book “Born to Ice” at Hilton Contemporary Tent V.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to display the works of a photographer whose devotion to and love of nature is unmatched,” said Arica Hilton, owner of Hilton Contemporary galleries.  “Paul’s tireless efforts to help pass legislation to protect our oceans and the life that resides within and on our earth, is an important part of our mission to exhibit works that pulsate with vitality and leave viewers with a heightened appreciation and understanding of our natural world.”

Recently featured in the National Geographic series “Photographer” alongside Mittermeier, Paul Nicklen’s new works on display feature pumas that Nicklen shot in a recent trip to Patagonia, Chile, in addition to landscape photos of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil.

Raised in the remote Arctic, Nicklen developed a deep love for wildlife at a young age, nurtured by the rugged landscapes of his home on Baffin Island and the influence of his predominantly Inuit community. His childhood passion for nature led him to pursue a career as a marine biologist before transitioning to photography, eventually leading to a 20-year career at National Geographic Magazine, where he documented both the beauty and the plight of our planet.

Known for enduring extreme expeditions across the world’s most isolated environments, Nicklen’s photography quickly garnered international acclaim as a voice for the voiceless and vulnerable wildlife. His evolution through the intersection of art, conservation and science spans from the shores of Antarctica to the depths of the South Pacific. Through his visceral imagery, Nicklen challenges viewers’ perceptions of nature and encourages a shared sense of kinship among all life.

Accompanying Nicklen’s work will be photographs by Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, also an acclaimed nature photographer who has been globally recognized as one of the most influential wildlife writers and conservationists, having been named a National Geographic Woman of Impact in 2018. Mittermeier recently debuted her solo exhibition at Hilton Contemporary in July 2024 to an overwhelming reception by collectors from around the world.  The exhibition, HOPE: A PRELUDE, is on-view at Hilton Contemporary through October 2024. 

Reverence is free and open to the public to view. To learn more about Reverence or Hilton Contemporary, visit hiltoncontemporary.com.