Griffin Museum Fact Sheet

THE MUSEUM

Opened in 1992, the Griffin Museum is the embodiment of founder Arthur Griffin’s passion.
Through our many exhibitions, programs, and lectures, we strive to encourage a broader
understanding and appreciation of the visual, emotional, and social impact of photographic art.
Exhibitions from well-known photographers, to those emerging on the scene, explore important
themes and thought-provoking ideas. All of the exhibitions and programs are designed to
encourage the passionate exploration of the art of photography.

The Griffin Museum houses four galleries dedicated to the exhibition of photographic
arts: Our Main Gallery exhibits contemporary artists of note; the Atelier and Griffin Gallery showcase emerging and mid-career talents. Our Founders Gallery showcases a series called Illuminating the Archive, featuring the work of contemporary artists in conversation with our founders’ archive. The Griffin also places photographic works throughout the museum’s campus with our summer exhibition Vision(ary) ans site specific installations throughout the year. The museum also supports three satellite galleries;

The Griffin @ Lafayette City Center Passageway (Boston Downtown Crossing)
The Griffin @ WinCAM (at Winchester Community Access and Media)
The Griffin @ The Jenks Center (Winchester)

In 2026, the Griffin Museum will present the Focus Awards. Created in 2006, these awards
recognize individuals who have made critical contributions to the promotion of photography and
are one of the few to recognize the work of those who have been instrumental in building
greater awareness of the photographic arts in the general public.

ARTHUR GRIFFIN

Arthur Griffin was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on September 12, 1903. Originally trained
to be an illustrator, in 1929 he picked up his first camera—a second-hand folding Brownie—and
thus began a passion that would last a lifetime. By the mid-1930’s, Arthur Griffin had become
the exclusive photographer for the newly created Boston Globe Rotogravure Magazine and the
New England photojournalist for Life and Time magazines. He went on to become a pioneer in
the use of color film and provided the first color photographs to appear in the Saturday Evening
Post—a two-page layout on New England.

We celebrate Arthur’s Birthday every year in September with a reception and day full of events.

STAFF