Curatorial Exhibitions Presents: E.O. Hoppé: In Search of America
The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway, Suite 405, Los Angeles, CA 90007 — Opening Thursday, February 26, 5–8 PM
Curatorial Exhibitions is proud to present E.O. Hoppé: In Search of America, a revelatory exhibition that reintroduces one of the twentieth century’s most influential yet under-recognized photographers. This landmark show explores Hoppé’s ambitious quest to capture the essence of American identity through portraiture and revolutionarily modern documentary photography.
E.O. Hoppé (1878–1972) was once among the most famous photographers in the world. A German-born artist based in London, he was a leading figure in early photographic modernism, a member of the pioneering Linked Ring Brotherhood, and a regular exhibitor at the Royal Photographic Society. His portraits of international cultural icons including Albert Einstein, Anna Pavlova, T.S. Eliot, and Paul Robeson, combined psychological depth with formal innovation.
In 1926, Hoppé embarked on an epic photographic journey across the United States, seeking to understand what made Americans distinct. His images of steelworkers in Pittsburgh, Native American communities in New Mexico, and Hollywood’s rising stars predated the road trip photography of Walker Evans, Edward Weston, and Robert Frank. In later decades, however, Hoppé’s work remained largely invisible; his archive became misattributed, obscure and inaccessible.
“In Search of America reveals a modernist who defied borders and categories,” says Graham Howe, curator at Curatorial Exhibitions. “Hoppé’s portraits and travel photographs offer a profound meditation on identity, class, and the American spirit.”
E.O. Hoppé: In Search of America opens Thursday, February 26 from 5–8 PM at The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway, Suite 405, Los Angeles, CA 90007.
Event Date: Thursday, February 26th – Sunday, March 1st, 2026
• Event Hours:
• Thursday – 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Friday – 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Saturday – 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Sunday – 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
