Robert Adams: Our Lives and Our Children

Through photographs made in the vicinity of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, the artist asks what we are willing to risk.

Black and white photograph of two women and a baby in a carrier walking down a road

Black-and-white photograph of a man wearing glasses

Black-and-white photograph of a young woman holding a baby

Black-and-white photograph of a person looking to the left in front of a parking lot filled with cars

Black-and-white photograph of a family walking through a parking lot filled with cars

Black-and-white photograph of a young girl holding a paper cup in the shadow of another person with figures in the background

Black-and-white photograph of a woman holding a baby, in the background is a tree with no leaves in the center, a shopping cart to the left, and a parking lot filled with cars

Black-and-white photograph of two women and two children loading items into a Volkswagen hatchback car, a woman wearing sunglasses watches from the background

Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman holding a child with their backs to the camera, another child facing the camera. Parked cars and storefronts are in the background.

Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman pushing a shopping cart containing a child and cases of Sprite soda through a parking lot filled with cars.

Robert Adams: Our Lives and Our Children

Through photographs made in the vicinity of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, the artist asks what we are willing to risk.

Black and white photograph of two women and a baby in a carrier walking down a road — Robert Adams, Adams County, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 12 x 9 inches (sheet) [30.5 x 22.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a man wearing glasses — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young woman holding a baby — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a person looking to the left in front of a parking lot filled with cars — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a family walking through a parking lot filled with cars — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young girl holding a paper cup in the shadow of another person with figures in the background — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a woman holding a baby, in the background is a tree with no leaves in the center, a shopping cart to the left, and a parking lot filled with cars — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of two women and two children loading items into a Volkswagen hatchback car, a woman wearing sunglasses watches from the background — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman holding a child with their backs to the camera, another child facing the camera. Parked cars and storefronts are in the background. — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman pushing a shopping cart containing a child and cases of Sprite soda through a parking lot filled with cars. — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of two women and a baby in a carrier walking down a road

Robert AdamsAdams County, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 12 x 9 inches (sheet) [30.5 x 22.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a man wearing glasses

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young woman holding a baby

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a person looking to the left in front of a parking lot filled with cars

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a family walking through a parking lot filled with cars

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young girl holding a paper cup in the shadow of another person with figures in the background

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a woman holding a baby, in the background is a tree with no leaves in the center, a shopping cart to the left, and a parking lot filled with cars

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of two women and two children loading items into a Volkswagen hatchback car, a woman wearing sunglasses watches from the background

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman holding a child with their backs to the camera, another child facing the camera. Parked cars and storefronts are in the background.

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman pushing a shopping cart containing a child and cases of Sprite soda through a parking lot filled with cars.

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1981

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting a road and field with large white cloud

Robert Adams: The Plains, from Memory

Robert Adams: The Plains, from Memory

Modest in size and painted in springlike hues with block-printing ink, these simplified compositions draw on the stillness and grandeur that Adams remembers from his time spent on the Colorado prairie.

Wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting a road and field with large white cloud — Untitled, 2020

ink on wood, 6-1/2 x 6-1/4 x 1/2 inches [16.5 x 15.8 x 1.2 cm]

Installation view of painted woodblock depicting a cloud like shape on white wedge on white wall

Color image of wooden sculpture with yellow and green paint — Untitled, 2020

ink on wood, 3-1/2 x 13-3/4 x 3/4 inches [8.8 x 34.9 x 1.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of an empty grassy plain — The Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado, 1984

gelatin silver print, 15 x 18-3/8 inches (image) [38.1 x 46.7 cm]

Vertical wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting field with clear blue sky — Untitled, 2020

ink on wood, 17-1/4 x 11-1/4 x 3/4 inches [43.8 x 28.5 x 1.9 cm]

Color image of painted woodblock depicting horizon with washes of blue, green, and yellow on white stand

Square wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting a yellow form — Untitled, 2020

ink on wood, 7 x 6-1/2 x 1/2 inches [17.7 x 16.5 x 1.2 cm]

Color photograph of woodblock depicting yellow, white, and blue washed forms on white stand

Framed black and white photograph of a tree against the sky with three wires crossing the lower third of the frame — South of Burns, Oregon, 1999

gelatin silver print, 17-1/2 x 14-1/2 inches (framed) [44.5 x 36.8 cm]

Color image of wooden sculpture with etchings and swatches of green, yellow, white, and blue — Untitled, 2020

ink on wood, 15-3/4 x 7-1/4 x 3/4 inches [40 x 18.4 x 1.9 cm]

Color image of a wooden sculpture with light blue and white ink — The Plains. Clarkville, Colorado, 2022

ink on wood, 8 x 12 x 3/4 inches [20.3 x 30.5 x 1.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of an empty plain as seen from the porch of an abandoned school — From the front porch of an abandoned one-room school house, looking into the Niobrara River Valley, Dawes County, Nebraska, 1978

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting a road and field with large white cloud

Robert AdamsUntitled

2020

ink on wood, 6-1/2 x 6-1/4 x 1/2 inches [16.5 x 15.8 x 1.2 cm]

Color image of wooden sculpture with yellow and green paint

Robert AdamsUntitled

2020

ink on wood, 3-1/2 x 13-3/4 x 3/4 inches [8.8 x 34.9 x 1.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of an empty grassy plain

Robert AdamsThe Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado

1984

gelatin silver print, 15 x 18-3/8 inches (image) [38.1 x 46.7 cm]

Vertical wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting field with clear blue sky

Robert AdamsUntitled

2020

ink on wood, 17-1/4 x 11-1/4 x 3/4 inches [43.8 x 28.5 x 1.9 cm]

Square wooden artwork with etchings and ink depicting a yellow form

Robert AdamsUntitled

2020

ink on wood, 7 x 6-1/2 x 1/2 inches [17.7 x 16.5 x 1.2 cm]

Framed black and white photograph of a tree against the sky with three wires crossing the lower third of the frame

Robert AdamsSouth of Burns, Oregon

1999

gelatin silver print, 17-1/2 x 14-1/2 inches (framed) [44.5 x 36.8 cm]

Color image of wooden sculpture with etchings and swatches of green, yellow, white, and blue

Robert AdamsUntitled

2020

ink on wood, 15-3/4 x 7-1/4 x 3/4 inches [40 x 18.4 x 1.9 cm]

Color image of a wooden sculpture with light blue and white ink

Robert AdamsThe Plains. Clarkville, Colorado

2022

ink on wood, 8 x 12 x 3/4 inches [20.3 x 30.5 x 1.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of an empty plain as seen from the porch of an abandoned school

Robert AdamsFrom the front porch of an abandoned one-room school house, looking into the Niobrara River Valley, Dawes County, Nebraska

1978

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of an empty street lined with businesses.

Robert Adams: The New West

Robert Adams: The New West

In a seminal series of images representing the suburban Southwest, Adams shows the brutal squalor of suburban architecture and its effect on the landscape, as well as the hopeful aspects of nature that are beyond our impact.

A black and white photograph of an empty street lined with businesses. — Robert Adams, Alameda Avenue, Denver, 1971

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph overlooking a small town with mountains and clouds in the distance. — Robert Adams, Golden, Colorado, 1969

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of a billboard advertising Howard Johnson's against pine trees and a river in the foreground. — Robert Adams, Clear Creek, near Idaho Springs, 1968-72

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of barren intersection with single building on the horizon — Robert Adams, Eden, Colorado, 1968

gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]

A black and white photograph of trees in an open field, with telephone lines running diagonally through the sky. — Robert Adams, Grazing Land with Pines, near Falcon, Colorado, 1968-72

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of a stretch of road with businesses and homes leading to the mountains — Robert Adams, Golden, Colorado, 1970 / printed 1972

gelatin silver print, 6 x 6 inches (image & sheet) [15.2 x 15.2 cm]

A black and white photograph of a lone person digging with mountains in the background. — Robert Adams, Basement for a tract house, Colorado Springs, 1969

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of an empty street lined with businesses.

Robert AdamsAlameda Avenue, Denver

1971

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph overlooking a small town with mountains and clouds in the distance.

Robert AdamsGolden, Colorado

1969

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of a billboard advertising Howard Johnson's against pine trees and a river in the foreground.

Robert AdamsClear Creek, near Idaho Springs

1968-72

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of barren intersection with single building on the horizon

Robert AdamsEden, Colorado

1968

gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]

A black and white photograph of trees in an open field, with telephone lines running diagonally through the sky.

Robert AdamsGrazing Land with Pines, near Falcon, Colorado

1968-72

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

Black and white photograph of a stretch of road with businesses and homes leading to the mountains

Robert AdamsGolden, Colorado

1970 / printed 1972

gelatin silver print, 6 x 6 inches (image & sheet) [15.2 x 15.2 cm]

A black and white photograph of a lone person digging with mountains in the background.

Robert AdamsBasement for a tract house, Colorado Springs

1969

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33 x 27.9 cm]

Black and white photograph from inside a house under construction looking onto horizon, a diagonal beam cuts across the image, and a plaid workshirt hangs from the beam.

Robert Adams: Denver

Robert Adams: Denver

A look at the man-made cityscape, abutted by the magnificent rise of the Rocky Mountains. “Many have asked, pointing incredulously toward a sweep of tract houses and billboards, why picture that?… One reason is…we need to improve things at home, and that to do it we have to see the facts without blinking.” – Robert Adams

Black and white photograph from inside a house under construction looking onto horizon, a diagonal beam cuts across the image, and a plaid workshirt hangs from the beam. — Robert Adams, Colorado, 1973-74 / printed 1974

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33.0 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of a line of trees reflected in a pond. — Robert Adams, A Farm Pond about to be Destroyed by Earth Moving Machinery, Northglenn, Colorado, 1973

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of empty field and residential neighborhood — Robert Adams, Lakewood, Colorado, 1973

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a brightly lit excavated area with a line of houses on the horizon. — Robert Adams, Colorado, ca. 1973

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33.0 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of three construction workers on the roofs of unfinished houses. — Robert Adams, Colorado, 1973-74

gelatin silver print, 11-1/8 x 13 inches (mount) [28.3 x 33.0 cm]

A black and white photograph of a lone tree and suburban houses against a cloudy sky. — Robert Adams, Longmont, Colorado, 1973

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a suburban house. — Robert Adams, North Denver, Colorado, ca. 1975

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of an industrial area with parking lots and cars. — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, 1973

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a pickup truck camper parked in the driveway of a suburban house. — Robert Adams, Denver, Colorado, ca. 1973

gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]

A black and white photograph of the backyards of suburban houses with an above ground swimming pool in the center and a bill board on the left side. — Robert Adams, Northglenn, Colorado, 1973

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of an apartment building and parked cars in shadow against a clear sky. — Robert Adams, An apartment block. Longmont, Colorado, 1973-74

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a river with trees and telephone wires in the background. — Robert Adams, The South Platte River, Adams County, Colorado, 1973

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

Black and white photograph from inside a house under construction looking onto horizon, a diagonal beam cuts across the image, and a plaid workshirt hangs from the beam.

Robert AdamsColorado

1973-74 / printed 1974

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33.0 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of a line of trees reflected in a pond.

Robert AdamsA Farm Pond about to be Destroyed by Earth Moving Machinery, Northglenn, Colorado

1973

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of empty field and residential neighborhood

Robert AdamsLakewood, Colorado

1973

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a brightly lit excavated area with a line of houses on the horizon.

Robert AdamsColorado

ca. 1973

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33.0 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph of three construction workers on the roofs of unfinished houses.

Robert AdamsColorado

1973-74

gelatin silver print, 11-1/8 x 13 inches (mount) [28.3 x 33.0 cm]

A black and white photograph of a lone tree and suburban houses against a cloudy sky.

Robert AdamsLongmont, Colorado

1973

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a suburban house.

Robert AdamsNorth Denver, Colorado

ca. 1975

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of an industrial area with parking lots and cars.

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

1973

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a pickup truck camper parked in the driveway of a suburban house.

Robert AdamsDenver, Colorado

ca. 1973

gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]

A black and white photograph of the backyards of suburban houses with an above ground swimming pool in the center and a bill board on the left side.

Robert AdamsNorthglenn, Colorado

1973

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of an apartment building and parked cars in shadow against a clear sky.

Robert AdamsAn apartment block. Longmont, Colorado

1973-74

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a river with trees and telephone wires in the background.

Robert AdamsThe South Platte River, Adams County, Colorado

1973

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of open grasslands with a small cluster of trees and houses in the distance, under a cloudy sky.

Robert Adams: Prairie

Robert Adams: Prairie

These quiet and poignant photographs of the American Prairie and its inhabitants describe a humble perseverance, and a reason for hope.

Black and white photograph of open grasslands with a small cluster of trees and houses in the distance, under a cloudy sky. — Robert Adams, Ranch. Northeast of Keota, Colorado, 1969

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of grain elevators, flanked on the right by an empty road. — Robert Adams, Elevators. Benkelman, Nebraska, 1965

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [39.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of two children looking out the rear window of a beat up early 1950's Ford pick up truck. — Robert Adams, Boys in a pickup. Simla, Colorado, 1970

gelatin silver print, 6-3/8 x 6-3/8 inches (sheet) [16.2 x 16.2 cm]

Black and white photograph of two station wagons parked in front of buildings on a dirt road. — Robert Adams, Limon, Colorado, 1970

gelatin silver print, 13 x 11 inches (mount) [33.0 x 27.9 cm]

A black and white photograph with trees, a wire fence, a tricycle at the left side of the image, a wagon at the right side of the image and a barn in the background. — Robert Adams, Farmyard. South of Arriba, Colorado, 1969

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a road, with sky in the first half of the photograph. A telephone pole is in the center left — Robert Adams, Near Peyton, Colorado, 1968

gelatin silver print, 10 x 8 inches (sheet) [25.4 x 20.3 cm]

A black and white photograph of empty fairgrounds with a water tank in the distance and a brightly lit clear sky. — Robert Adams, El Paso County Fairgrounds. Calhan, Colorado, 1968

gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]

A black and white photograph of a train car, a windowless structure, and silos against a brightly lit sky and telephone wires. — Robert Adams, Stoneham, Colorado, 1966

gelatin silver print, 14 x 15-1/2 inches (mount) [35.6 x 39.4 cm]

A black and white photograph of a playground with teeter totters, a slide, and a telephone pole with wires. A wooden structure in the background against a bright clear sky. — Robert Adams, Schoolyard, Ramah, Colorado, 1968

gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]

An empty stage with multiple framed photographs of graduating students, a curtain at the left side of the image and single wooden folding chair at right side of the image. — Robert Adams, Pictures of graduating classes, on a stage at the endof a gymnasium in a consolidated school (closed),New Raymer, Weld County, Colorado, 1970

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [31.4 x 35.6 cm]

A vertical black and white photograph of an old wooden church with trees at each side and a clear bright sky. — Robert Adams, Catholic church, winter. Ramah, Colorado, 1965-6

gelatin silver print, 10 x 8 inches (sheet) [25.4 x 20.3 cm]

A vertical black and white photograph of an old wooden church with trees at each side and a cloudy sky. — Robert Adams, Catholic church, summer. Ramah, Colorado, 1965

gelatin silver print, 10 x 8 inches (sheet) [25.4 x 20.3 cm]

Black and white photograph of open grasslands with a small cluster of trees and houses in the distance, under a cloudy sky.

Robert AdamsRanch. Northeast of Keota, Colorado

1969

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of grain elevators, flanked on the right by an empty road.

Robert AdamsElevators. Benkelman, Nebraska

1965

gelatin silver print, 15-1/2 x 14 inches (mount) [39.4 x 35.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of two children looking out the rear window of a beat up early 1950's Ford pick up truck.

Robert AdamsBoys in a pickup. Simla, Colorado

1970

gelatin silver print, 6-3/8 x 6-3/8 inches (sheet) [16.2 x 16.2 cm]