This Iconic Photo Exhibit in New York Is Honoring People Magazine's Best Covers

For five full decades, our friends at People have brought you the latest in celebrity and human-interest stories, keeping us all flipping the pages for more. And this week, it's celebrating that milestone alongside Fotografiska New York for the magazine's first-ever museum exhibition, titled "People: Celebrating 50 Years."

The exhibition, which opens to the public on May 9, features some of the magazine's best original covers and photographs, along with multimedia and interactive elements to help fans delve deeper into its magnificent history. 

"The history of People is a microcosm of the changes that have happened in pop culture over the past 50 years," Sophie Wright, the executive director of Fotografiska New York, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. "At the heart of this story is photography, and we are delighted to collaborate on this exhibition that celebrates the images that have defined People and brought its human-centered storytelling to life. Featuring well-known subjects from film, fashion, music, and beyond, to issue-based reportage – it gives our visitors a chance to revisit some of its most notable coverage of the past 50 years."

Much of the magazine's success, a spokesperson for the brand said in a statement, is indeed tied to visual elements. In fact, the magazine's first prospectus read, "The succession of dramatic images should make turning the pages irresistible." As the statement further explained, People has worked with some of the most highly regarded photographers of the last half century, including Martin Schoeller, Harry Benson, Gordon Parks, Co Rentmeester, Ruven Afanador, Cass Bird, Elinor Carucci, and Art Streiberthe 50th Special Issue cover, which hit newsstands in April.

“For 50 years, People has chronicled the biggest moments in pop culture, and our photographs–combined with our unparalleled reporting–have given the world an up close and personal look not only at the world’s most high-profile names but also the unseen stories that make up the fabric of this country,” Wendy Naugle, editor in chief of People, added. “We are excited to show the brand’s evolution as we continue to innovate and lead the pop culture conversation on all platforms. I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy this immersive, multimedia experience at Fotografiska.” 

The exhibit will be open through June 30 and will include several live events and panels throughout the month, so check the schedule to see which one strikes your fancy at newyork.fotografiska.com.