Lectures and Talks

Photographer Alexey Titarenko explores the character of a city and its people, blending the reality of a moment with metaphor. By using long exposure times and darkroom techniques, he makes photographs that evoke a mood and the passage of time.

Titarenko grew up and studied photography in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg, Russia). He first made collages and photomontages commenting on the oppressive communist regime but after the fall of the Soviet Union, he shifted focus. Inspired by literature and music, he began making pictures that poetically express the feelings and the stories of the lives of people in St. Petersburg. Alexey Titarenko took this approach to photographing other cities including Venice, Italy, Havana, Cuba, and New York City, where he lives and works today.

Following this talk, there will be a book signing of the new expanded edition of The City is a Novel (2025).

This program is presented in connection with the photography exhibition What We’ve Been Up To: People, February 8 – September 29, 2026.

Celebrate AAPI month with the Denver Art Museum! Join the Arts of Asia department on May 26th for a special conversation with Chicago-based artist, Dabin Ahn. Led by Curator Hyonjeong (HJ) Kim Han, be the first to see a new work by the artist, now part of our permanent collection.

This event does not include admission to the Denver Art Museum, if you would like to visit the galleries please purchase tickets here.