The American Will McBride (1931–2015) repeatedly caused a stir as a photographer and artist. Although McBride spent creative years in Munich, Frankfurt, and Tuscany, Berlin was and remained his city. “Berlin sensitized and changed my perspectives,” he once reflected, “I had the freedom to see things as I wanted.”
Image gallery
Unbekannt, Will mit 400er Objektiv auf der Leica, Berlin, 1959
He came to Berlin in 1955 as a discharged G.I., quickly made friends, and found his subject: youth and youth culture, new beginnings, and zest for life. As part of a “clique,” he was closely involved, photographing from a participatory perspective and thus developing a very personal, existentially-tinged visual language.
Ten years after Will McBride’s death, the Bröhan Museum pays tribute to the influential photographer, whose groundbreaking work is almost inconceivable without post-war Berlin.
The exhibition ‘Will McBride - The Berlin Years’ continues the series of photo exhibitions at the Bröhan Museum. It is also a direct response to the show ‘Berlin in einer Hundenacht. Gundula Schulze Eldowy’, which was on show at the Bröhan Museum in 2024. Just like Gundula Schulze Eldowy, Will McBride came to Berlin as a young man. Both are fascinated by life in this city - Gundula Schulze Eldowy by the East Berlin milieu of the 1970s in Mitte and Will McBride by life in Berlin in the 1950s, which was not yet separated by the Wall but was nevertheless gradually dividing up. Both are observers of their world, whereby Will McBride, for all his detachment, is even more a part of the milieu he depicts than Gundula Schulze Eldowy in her photographs. Their series of works are documents of Berlin life and subtle homages to Berlin.
As part of the EMOP Berlin – European Month of Photography
Additional information
Price info: Advance booking is recommended, but tickets can also be purchased on site.
Every first Wednesday of the month, a entrance fee of just €4 applies for everyone!
Price: €9.00
Reduced price: €6.00
Reduced price info: Admission is free for children under age 18 and for all previously registered school classes.
Every first Wednesday of the month, a entrance fee of just €4 applies for everyone!
Price: €9.00
Reduced price: €6.00
Reduced price info: Admission is free for children under age 18 and for all previously registered school classes.
