Allen B, Newman

Click to view Live Stream: Passcode Cunningham

Alan B. Newman

Alan B. Newman, a Brooklyn native and eminently talented photographic artist, passed away on January 13, 2024, in Alexandria, Virginia at the age of 77. Alan was born on July 1, 1946, to parents Judith Schiff Newman and Samuel Newman, both of whom preceded him in death.

Alan leaves behind a rich artistic legacy and will be deeply missed by his brother, Zachary Newman, of Portland, Oregon, and his loving fiancée, Linda Rivero, of Alexandria, Virginia.

Alan’s brilliance extended beyond his artistry; his intellect was sharp and focused, and Alan was always finding beauty in the details. He was a proud Brooklynite, with a heart as wide as the borough itself.

Alan’s early days were spent in the New York City Public Schools, after which he pursued higher education at SUNY Buffalo where he majored in Poetry, much to the worry of his loving Jewish Mom.

From poetry, Alan segued to photography. Throughout his career, Alan made significant contributions to this artistic world. Starting as a young instructor of Large Format and Advanced Photography at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., Alan went on to teach at Cummington School of the Arts in Cummington, Massachusetts, and then serve as Head of Photography at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1985, Alan became Executive Director of Imaging at the Art Institute of Chicago. Following nineteen years at the Art Institute, Alan came to Washington, D.C. where he served as Chief of Digital Media at the National Gallery of Art until 2022.

In 2006, Alan was a founding member of Image Muse, an international community of professionals in cultural heritage imaging from art institutions around the world.

The legacy of Alan’s work as a master platinum photographic printer lives on in his prints housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Alan’s hobbies were his gallery of joys: photography and his endlessly original, striking views of light; jazz, which filled his soul with a joy surpassed only by his bliss in the music of Leonard Cohen; and Italy, where every step he took revealed another magical moment to capture on film. Museums were Alan’s playground, offering endless inspiration, as was the sky, a dazzling backdrop to the swooping flocks in flight he so loved.

On April 13, 2024, Alan’s fiancée will host a Joyful Celebration of Alan’s Life at Cunningham Turch Funeral Home in Alexandria, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in the memory of Alan B. Newman to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or online at www.DementiaSociety.org/donate.

Alan B. Newman, a man who lived with love, laughter, and an artist’s touch, has left an indelible mark on the photographic and digital art world, as well as on all those who had the joy of knowing him. He will be remembered as a remarkable artist, a forever sweet and kind man, and a beacon of positivity.

No time, no distance and no sorrow will ever dim Alan’s radiant light.