APR 2008
Flash Gallery Show
An early LightRoom exhibition bringing photography into a temporary gallery setting.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
LightRoom Gallery
A room for photography.
A Philadelphia space shaped by artists, shared looking, and the durable pleasure of a photograph in person.
The story
A gallery with a long local focus.
The Light Room, founded in 2000, has been a gathering place for Philadelphia’s photography community. Its programs have included solo presentations, collaborative projects, salons, and annual exhibitions by members of the LightRoom photography cooperative.
By 2011, the gallery and its related darkroom were active in the Fairmount area. The gallery space at 2024 Wallace Street opened its doors for Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, creating a place where photographers could show work, meet peers, and bring the medium into public view.
Today, LightRoom continues that artist-led tradition. Its exhibitions make room for photographs to be encountered slowly, in conversation with the people who make, collect, and care for them.
The organization
A cooperative for photographers.
The Light Room was founded in 2000 by Albie Wachlin Jr. and Joshua Marowitz. Its newsletter carried the name Philadelphia’s Photographic Arts Co-Op, and the organization described itself as an artist-run non-profit photographic arts center: a community and gallery devoted to fine-art photography for young people and adults alike. The gallery program appears on this site as LightRoom Gallery.
Members were the point of the place. The co-op stated its purpose directly: “Our goal is to foster an environment in which members can achieve their photographic objectives through the use of modern, professional darkroom and studio facilities, ongoing education, and the sharing of ideas.” The Light Room did not offer public classes. Callers looking for open instruction were referred to Project Basho or the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center.
The gallery is at 2024 Wallace Street, and the darkroom was at 1909 Wilcox Street in Fairmount. The working rooms included that darkroom, a small digital lab, and the gallery itself. In 2012, Artblog called The Light Room the oldest and most under-the-radar of Philadelphia’s three community photo art centers, alongside Project Basho and the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center.
Members showed together in annual group exhibitions, often at 3rd Street Gallery in Old City. Wallace Street kept its own calendar of solo presentations, collaborations, and member catalog shows. The gallery still hosts exhibitions, including the shows on view today.
Exhibition archive
Documented exhibitions.
This living timeline gathers exhibitions that can be confirmed through artist records, program listings, and local archives. It is not yet a complete catalogue, and will grow as more LightRoom materials are located.
2009
Winter Art Salon
A group salon exhibition at The LightRoom Gallery, documented in Richard Boutwell’s exhibition record.
The LightRoom Gallery · Philadelphia
2009
Richard Boutwell
A solo exhibition by Richard Boutwell, listed as taking place at The Light Room Gallery.
The LightRoom Gallery · Philadelphia
2010
Journeys
An exhibition at The Lightroom Salon Gallery that included Amie Potsic.
The Lightroom Salon Gallery · Philadelphia
JUN 2010
Expiration
A solo exhibition by Kaitlin Mosley exploring expired film, stillness, absence, and presence.
The Light Room Salon Gallery · Philadelphia
AUG 2010
Redux
A group photography exhibition by members of The Light Room.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
DEC 2010
Small Works Holliday Show
A seasonal group exhibition of small-format work.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
APR 2011
Photographs From The Streets
A solo exhibition by Ronald Corbin.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
2011
Light Room Annual Group Exhibition
The LightRoom’s annual group show, presented at 3rd Street Gallery. In the same year, LightRoom participated in Philadelphia Open Studio Tours from its gallery space at 2024 Wallace Street.
3rd Street Gallery and 2024 Wallace Street · Philadelphia
NOV 2011
Two Cultures
A two-person exhibition by Tony Rocco and Ranjoo Prasad.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
APR 2012
Unseen Color, Part 1
A solo exhibition by Stephen Perloff.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
JUN 2012
Passion For Trashin
A group exhibition curated by Anne Saint Peter.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
JUL 2012
Local Alternatives
A group exhibition curated by Sandra C. Davis.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
SEP 2012
The Letter Project, Light & Chemical Correspondence
A collaborative exhibition by Scott McMahan and Ahmed Salvador.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
MAR 2013
The Natives, Salt Print Project
Joshua Marowitz presented salt-print portraits of native plants, connecting historical photographic practice with biodiversity and land restoration. The project grew from Pennsylvania botanicals into a national journey documenting native species across the United States.
LightRoom Gallery · Philadelphia
MAY 2013
Unseen Color, Part II: East and West
A solo exhibition by Stephen Perloff.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
JUL 2013
2013 Light Room Member Exhibition
An annual group presentation of work by Light Room members.
3rd Street Gallery · Philadelphia
JUL 2013
Domestic Arrangements
A solo exhibition by Kimberly Witham.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
OCT 2013
Developing A City Abandoned
A solo exhibition by Vincent D. Feldman.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
DEC 2013
2013 Catalog Exhibition
A group exhibition by Light Room members.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
JUL 2014
Annual Group Exhibition
The annual presentation of work by Light Room members.
3rd Street Gallery · Philadelphia
OCT 2014
Beyond White Pines: Poconos Paradise, Past & Present
A two-person exhibition by Matt Hurst and Katie Rey.
The LightRoom · Philadelphia
AUG 2015
Photographs from 15 Years
A LightRoom exhibition at 3rd Street Gallery reflecting on fifteen years of photography.
3rd Street Gallery · Philadelphia
JUL 2017
7th Annual Summer Photography Exhibition
A group exhibition featuring nine Light Room photographers.
3rd Street Gallery · Philadelphia
AUG 2018
8th Annual Summer Photography Exhibition
The annual group exhibition of Light Room photographers.
3rd Street Gallery · Philadelphia
2026
In Good Company
Photographs Collected by Philadelphia Photographers, presented by The Photo Review. The exhibition brings together photographs artists have acquired, traded, received, and kept over the years.
LightRoom Gallery · 2024 Wallace Street · October 9 to November 21
Do you have a LightRoom exhibition checklist, invitation, photograph, or correction? This archive is intended to be expanded with community-held materials.
Current exhibition