Ryan Spencer Reed (born 1979) is an American social documentary photographer. He has worked in Central and East Africa in the capacity of a photojournalist, covering the Sudanese Diaspora, since 2002.Photographer Biography, Darfur/Darfur After returning from covering the War in Darfur in summer 2004, he and his work have moved around North America to universities in the form of traveling exhibitions and lectures. The Open Society Institute & Soros Foundation awarded him with the Documentary Photography Project's Distribution Grant in 2006.The Open Society Institute & Soros Foundations Network, Documentary Photography Project 2006 Distribution Grant RecipientOSI Distribution Grant Winners Announced
While exhibiting and speaking internationally on the subject of Sudan, Reed has photographed extensively on the hubris of power amidst the twilight of the U.S. industrial revolution, which is touring in exhibition form. Since Spring of 2012, Reed took on a long-term project on the modern incarnation of the Band of Brothers: 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne through training and a deployment to Afghanistan.Kickstarter Campaign March 4, 2015 This work was unveiled in its entirety at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in the Fall of 2014. The work aims to catalyze a dialogue on the dissonance between the myths and realities of war.Pictures of the Year International (POYi) World Understanding Award Judges' Special Recognition "Despite Similarities to Reality" March 4, 2015
Group exhibitions
New York Historical Society, New York CityImages of Darfur, on Central Park West. by Sewell Chan The New York Times October 18, 2007New York Historical Society: What's NewNew York Historical Society: Exhibitions and Collections Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, ILIntroduction to Cultural Studies. Columbia College. October 5, 2007 Jewish Museum Berlin, GERMANYBefore the Eyes of the World Jewish Museum Berlin March 15, 2007 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C.United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Our Walls Bear Witness, Darfur: Who Will Survive TodayNathan Guttman, The Jewish Daily Forward, November 24, 2006 National Constitution Center, PhiladelphiaNational Constitution Center Press Release July 12, 2007Constitution Center facades display anguish of Darfur. International Herald Tribune. July 25, 2007 Cairo Opera House, EgyptFreedom to Create Prize Exhibition Jardin Du Trocadero, ParisSummary and images of the installation National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo Holocaust Centre, Cape TownPast Event - Witnessing Darfur George Eastman House, Rochester, New YorkGeorge Eastman House Past Exhibitions Ortaköy Peir Square, IstanbulTurkish Daily News June 29, 2007 Gare do Oriente’s Main Square, LisbonRPT December 3, 2007 Guthrie Theater, MinneapolisGuthrie reading of In Darfur promises a powerful play La Casa Encendida, MadridLa Casa Encendida de Obra Social Caja Madrid February 25, 2009UNHCR Press Release February 2009 Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, CANADA Institute of Contemporary Art, BostonDarfur Comes to ICA/Boston September 7, 2007ICA Press Release August 16, 2007The ICA Presents September 7, 2007 Centro Internazionale de Fotografia (FORMA), Milan, ItalyFORMA Exhibition Archives July 3, 2007 International Center of Photography, New York CityDarfur/Darfur Press Release September 2007 Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, CanadaToronto International Film Festival Films & SchedulesRoyal Ontario Museum Press Release September 8, 2007 Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, MichiganArtPrize 2014 venue review: Grand Rapids Art Museum enters '|Dis|Comfort Zones' March 4, 2015Grand Rapids Art Museum ArtPrize 2014 Exhibition '|Dis|Comfort Zones' March 4, 2015 Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, SpainDarfur/Darfur archives City Museum of Ljubljana, LjubljanaDarfur/Darfur archives Hammer Museum, Los AngelesEddie Adams Workshop Alumni Ban Jelačić Square, Zagreb, CroatiaOpening of exhibition February 21, 2008 Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Sun Valley, IDSun Valley Center - Exhibitions Schouwburg Cultural Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands Stockholm International Fairs, Sweden University of the Witwatersrand, Senate House, Johannesburg, South Africa University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Brown University List Art Center, Providence, Rhode IslandBrown University Media Relations January 17, 2007 Detroit Public Library, DetroitWDET Event: Art & Museum Exhibits October 22, 2007 Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale, Arizona Spertus Institute, ChicagoDarfur/Darfur Press Release Galerie Mirchandani+Steinruecke, IndiaFreedom to Create Prize Exhibition Ana Tzarev Gallery, New York CityFreedom to Create Prize Exhibition The LUMIX Festival for Young Photojournalism, Hanover, GermanyLumix Festival Exhibitions March 5, 2015
Solo exhibitions
Harvard Law School, Massachusetts THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW: Effecting Change at Home and Across the Globe“ Michigan State University College of Law, MichiganAfrican Studies Center Events October 17th, 2006 Northwestern University, Illinois;FACING SUDAN a documentary film November 12, 2006Darfur: An Unforgivable Hell on Earth Swarthmore College, PennsylvaniaThe Swarthmore News Swat Sudan Hosts Darfur Conference. November 6, 2007 Kean University, New Jersey;Jewish Studies Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary Kean University Media and Publications.10 Years - 50 Visiting Scholars Jewish Studies and World Affairs at Kean UniversityKean University Newspaper Article March 3, 2008 Temple Sholom, ChicagoTemple Sholom Event. "Social Action Event to Raise Awareness of Genocide in Africa" University of Colorado at Boulder, ColoradoCU-Boulder's Norlin Library To Host Photo Exhibit On Sudan Crisis January 18, 2007 Bucknell University, Pennsylvania City Waukegan/Urban Edge Gallery, IllinoisWGNTV Chicago's Very Own. "Suburban photo exhibit honors ‘Those Who Serve’" September 11th, 2015Chicago Tribune. "From Afghanistan to Waukegan: 'Powerful' combat photos lead art series" By Dan Moran September 8th, 2015 Wilkes University, PennsylvaniaElectric City.The Cost of Silence brings Sudanese life to Northeast Pa. by Alicia Grega-Pikul. Electric City. January 4, 2007Wilkes University Alumni Magazine. "Sordoni Art Gallery to Feature Work of International Photojournalist" Winter 2006Arts@Wilkes. "Upcoming Exhibit Features Spencer Reed's Detroit Forsaken" February 2012 Richard App Gallery, MichiganStellafly Art Review. "Ryan Spencer Reed Opening Reception of Shades of Grandeur" March 16, 2012 Naples Holocaust Museum, Florida SRI in the Rockies Conference, British Columbia, Canada Ohio Wesleyan University, OhioThe Transcript April 19, 2007 Calvin College, MichiganCalvin Chimes. "Center Art Gallery features Ryan Reed" December 3, 2004 Huntington University, IndianaMerillat Centre for the Arts. "Photojournalist to Present Exhibit, Lecture" October 31, 2005Forester Lecture Series. Season's Speakers Announced August 17, 2005 Jackson Symphony Orchestra, MichiganJackson Citizen Patriot. "Photos Show Sudan Strife" September 25th, 2006Outside Circle Collective. "Ryan Spencer Reed- Hands Of A Displaced Sudan" October 12th, 2005 Grace Presbyterian, Alberta, CanadaThe Calgary Herald. Valerie Fortney. September 28, 2008 Birmingham-Southern College, AlabamaJames R. Nelson - Visual arts critic for the Birmingham News. January 18, 2009 Ogden Arts, UtahOgden Arts Presents The Exhibition Sudan: The Cost Of Silence and Ogden's Art Stroll For Darfur September 25, 2007Exhibition Listings in Northern Utah Concordia University, Michigan Concordia Exhibitions - Fall 2008 Dordt College, IowaDordt College News. "Justice Matters Events" April 9, 2006 Samford University, TennesseeThe Belltower - Samford University Communications. "Photojournalist Reed to Speak on Darfur Crisis" September 29, 2006 Hope College, MichiganHope College Critical Issues Symposium - Genocide AgendaHope College News. "Symposium Will Examine Genocide" September 12, 2005 Ann Arbor District Library, MichiganAnn Arbor District Library News. "Disturbing Images of Darfur" Muskegon Community College, MichiganMuskegon Community College News. "Global Awareness Festival Focuses on Africa" February 1, 2014Muskegon Community College News. "Final Week for Sudan Photo Exhibit" February 10, 2014
Visiting artist lectures Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago DARFUR: IMAGERY AND REALITY SYMPOSIUM. James Simpson Theater, Field Museum. October 8, 2007DARFUR: Imagery and Reality October 8th, 2007Field Museum Audience Testimonial. October 9, 2007 Harvard University, BostonSudanese Online. December 4, 2005Darfur December Conference Glenbow Museum, Alberta, CanadaAlberta Global Forum - University of CalgaryImage of the talk Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Detroit Public Library, Detroit Kean University, New JerseyKean University Program in Jewish Studies and World Affairs January, 2009 University of Vermont, Burlington, VermontFull Slate Planned for Earth Week. UVM The View. April 19th, 2006Genocide Education Speakers Series. April 20, 2006 Weber State University Convocation, Ogden, UtahOgden Arts Presents September 27, 2007 King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaWVIA - Public Broadcasting Furman University, South Carolina Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan University of Illinois, Springfield, IllinoisUIS program will examine the crisis in Sudan UIS News Bureau October 31, 2008
Awards Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 2015 World Understanding Award Judges' Special Recognition "Despite Similarities to Reality"Pictures of the Year International (POYi) World Understanding Award Judges' Special Recognition "Despite Similarities to Reality" March 4, 2015 Photolucida 2015 Critical Mass Top 50 "Despite Similarities to Reality"Photolucida 2015 Critical Mass Top 50 "Despite Similarities to Reality" November 30, 2015 Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2015 Finalist and Public Award Winner"DESPITE SIMILARITIES TO REALITY Ryan Spencer Reed, United States of America" April 03, 2015 Freedom to Create Prize, "Sudan: The Cost of SilenceFreedom to Create Exhibition March 4, 2015 Open Society Foundations & Soros Foundation Documentary Photography Project Distribution Grant, "Sudan: The Cost of Silence"Virginia Quarterly Review 'People' March 4, 2015
Selected publications This is Not a Requiem for Detroit Virginia Quarterly Review, Spring 2011, pp. 124–147.This is Not a Requiem for Detroit Detroit Forsaken, Ryan Spencer Reed Photo Technique Magazine, March/April 2011.Detroit Forsaken, Ryan Spencer Reed "Darfur/Darfur: Life/War." New York: DK Melcher Media, 2008. . Reed is one of the eight photographers of this book.Publisher's book web siteBook Press ReleaseVanity Fair. Picturing Genocide. by Evgenia Peretz. June 18, 2007 Google Earth Mapping Initiatives: Crisis in Darfur Layers. Reed is one of the seven photographers.Mapping Initiatives: Crisis in Darfur LayersUnited States Holocaust Memorial Museum Crisis in Darfur
References
External links Government Operations Committee Testimony on Sudan Divestment- HOUSE BILL No. 4854 July 24, 2007 Website of Ryan Spencer Reed and The Cost of Silence Exhibitions