Ansel Adams Exhibition Offers Glimpse of Photographer's Vintage L.A. Imagery

Westmont College Ridley-Tree Museum of Art showcases Adams' lesser-seen urban work from the 1940s.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A new exhibition at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, 'Beyond the Wilderness: Ansel Adams in 1940s Los Angeles,' offers a surprising look at the legendary photographer's work capturing the urban landscape of pre-war Los Angeles. While Adams is best known for his iconic nature photography, the show highlights his lesser-seen images of L.A. landmarks, factories, and everyday life, providing a unique outsider's perspective of the city during that time period.

Why it matters

The exhibition challenges the common perception of Adams as solely a nature photographer, revealing a more diverse body of work that includes urban documentation. It also provides historical insight into Los Angeles in the 1940s, a pivotal time as the city was on the brink of WWII and experiencing rapid industrial and population growth.

The details

In 1940, Adams was commissioned by Fortune magazine to photograph the burgeoning aviation industry in Los Angeles. While in the city, he also captured a range of other urban scenes, from landmarks like the Brown Derby to everyday life at places like the Olympic Trailer Court. Many of these images, which showcase Adams' artistic eye even in documentary work, were stored for decades before he decided to revisit and reprint them.

  • In 1940, Adams traveled from San Francisco to Los Angeles on assignment for Fortune magazine.
  • The 'City of the Angels' article featuring Adams' L.A. photos was published in Fortune in March 1941.
  • After being stored for two decades, Adams decided to revisit and reprint many of the 217 L.A. images he had captured.
  • The 'Beyond the Wilderness: Ansel Adams in 1940s Los Angeles' exhibition is on view at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art through March 28, 2026.

The players

Ansel Adams

A legendary American photographer known for his iconic nature photography, but who also captured a lesser-seen urban side of Los Angeles in the 1940s.

Fortune magazine

The publication that commissioned Adams to photograph the aviation industry in Los Angeles in 1940, leading to his broader exploration of the city.

Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art

The museum hosting the 'Beyond the Wilderness: Ansel Adams in 1940s Los Angeles' exhibition, which showcases Adams' urban photography from that time period.

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What they’re saying

“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”

— Ansel Adams (independent.com)

“Sometimes, I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.”

— Ansel Adams (independent.com)

What’s next

The exhibition 'Beyond the Wilderness: Ansel Adams in 1940s Los Angeles' is on view at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art through March 28, 2026.

The takeaway

This exhibition offers a unique perspective on the legendary photographer Ansel Adams, revealing a lesser-known side of his work that captures the urban landscape of Los Angeles in the 1940s. It challenges the common perception of Adams as solely a nature photographer, showcasing his artistic eye and documentary skills in capturing the city's landmarks, factories, and everyday life during a pivotal time in its history.