Don't Smile's (2016-2021) purpose was simple - to carve out a space exclusively dedicated for showcasing exceptional photography by women, both established and emerging. Don't Smile featured one photographer bi-weekly as well as an online group exhibition each quarter. Below you will see an archive of the shows, features, and publications from Don’t Smile during its five-year run.

Publications

Don’t Smile published zines containing every feature and exhibition publishing during their first two years, Don’t Smile: Year One and Two, as well as cullare, a book meant to serve as a mental pause.

Don’t Smile: Year One - Trim size: 5.5x8.5”, 48 pages, saddle stitch. Published 03/2017

Don’t Smile: Year Two - Cover image: Meghan Kirkwood. Trim size: 8x11”, 208 pages, perfect bound. Published 04/2018

cullare - Cover image: Elisabetta Cociani. Trim size: 6.5x6.5”, 106 pages, perfect bound. Published 06/2019

Exhibitions - 2021

In Don’t Smile’s 5 years, 13 exhibitions were curated and over $3,500 in donations were made with submission fees to organizations like Planned Parenthood and aftrART.

Did That Just Happen?

Curated by Melissa Kreider

January 2021

Featuring work made in 2020 by Yael Ben-Zion, Anne Berry, Laurie Blakeslee, Phillipa Bloom, Shauna Caldwell, Ellen Carey, Emmaline Carter, Emily Chiavelli, Ally Christmas, Lo Clayton, Anastasia Davis, Lucy Deverall, Sharon Draghi, Kate DuBroy, Lauren Emmerson, Alison Erazmus, Naomi Falk, Christina Felschen, Allie Fischer, Amy Fleming, Sharlotte Fondeur, Cristina Fontsare, Elise Gaffney, Carole Glauber, Ashley Goodwin, Katie Grinell, Lisa Guerriero, Julie Hamel, Jessica Just, Ashley Kouri, Parvathi Kumar, Savannah Lauren, Jennifer Long, Victoria Maidhof, Elysabeth Martin, Emily Mason, Lily Mayfield, Rachael McArthur, Maureen McKeon, Sara Minsky, Leah Monsour, Emily Mueller, Gabrielle Muller, Sarah Pfohl, Divine Princess B, Katie Prock, Ari Ramos, Nat Raum, Sanne Romeijn, Renee Romero, Becky Rudolf, Emily Shaddox, Richella Simard, Ursula Sokolowska, Alanna Styer, Erika Suarez, Britt Thomas, Lily Walsh, Alaina Woofter, and Anna Zlotnicki

All images below are a sampling of the entire exhibition.

Exhibitions - 2020

Earth Mother/Mother Earth

Curated by Noelle McCleaf

April 2020

On this Earth Day, Earth Mother/Mother Earth elevates images of women, animals, and the land during an era of ecological peril. Our ancestral roles as healers, water-gatherers, creators, and givers of life, make us inherently tied to the Earth and her ecosystems. We also share in the oppression of our bodies, voices, and creations. The images in Earth/Mother Mother Earth come from women artists of diverse backgrounds and varied artistic approaches. Grandmother, gardener, or goddess, these photographs celebrate women and our reverence for this planet we call home.

--Noelle McCleaf, curator

Featuring work by Melissa Borman, Frances Bukovsky, Shauna Caldwell, Camille DeSanto, Avalon DiBernard, Chiara Dondi, Rachel Duetmeyer, Tracy Fish, Elise Gaffney, Joy Hart, Mamie Heldman, Helen Jones, Sarah Jayne Kennelly, Lily LaGrange, Margaret LeJeune, Callee McCosby, Karina Rocco, Jade Rodgers, Mollie Schaidt, Kyra Shackelford, Giulia Simonotti, Marie Smith, and Joelle St. Julien.

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Family Frames

Curated by Kathryn Harrison

March 2020

I am thrilled to present this selection of photographs and to recognize these photographers for their work and contributions to conversations surrounding one of the most universal yet least acknowledged forms of personal and cultural expression -- family photographs. To me, family photographs are layered with complexity and nuance, which can multiply and magnify with time. They can cross into larger public spheres, challenging contexts and concepts of image-making and conventions. This selection of thirty photographs made by twenty women reveals a profound sensibility and striking curiosity concerning and responding to the ideas of family, self-representation, and community. Thank you to everyone who submitted and congratulations to those featured.

                                          - Kathryn Harrison, Curator of “Family Frames”

Featuring work by Hannah Altman, Saskia Baden, Samantha Brinkley, Marisa Chavetz, Laura Beth Davidson, Camille DeSanto, Sydney Ellison, Gabi Gonzalez, Anna Grevenitis, Tamar Haytayan, Elizabeth Hibbard, Megan Kelly, Charis Morgan, Rebecca Morrello, Becca Moskowitz, Michaela Nagyidaiova, Sarah Perlmutter, Premstar Santana, Heather Rattray, Jess Voas, and Madessyn Zahn

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Exhibitions - 2018

Color Balance

Curated by Amanda Mollindo

October 2018

“Photography has danced with imperialism, racism, and sexism since its invention. Even color film held inherent biases against darker skin tones up until the 1990s. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of photographs depicting people of color — but few have been made by us, to tell our stories from our perspectives.

Photography’s power is derived from the camera’s ability to closely mirror the world as the artist sees it. For that reason, representation matters behind the lens most of all. The work featured Color Balance was created by female-identifying photographers of color who are taking ownership of internal and external narratives through the meaningful act of image-making.” -Amanda Mollindo

Featuring work by Kamile Anderson, Janay Bookhart, Stephanie Bravo, Aaron Davis, Mathilde Guiho, Parvathi Kumar, Liu Liu, Priscilla Mars, Lilibeth Robles, Renee Romero, Samar Samry, EbTihal Shedid, and Savannah Thomas.

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

School’s Out for the Summer

Curated by Melissa Kreider

July 2018

For Don't Smile's first show of its third year, I wanted to seek work made by women who are currently pursuing or have graduated with (in May 2018) an undergraduate or graduate degree with a focus in photography. I am deeply impressed with all of the submissions received and I'm excited to present to you work that is from a fresh perspective!

Chelsea Darter received the award for Curator's Choice in this show. She was awarded $200 from the submission fees of School's Out for the Summer to continue making her work.

Featuring work by Hannah Altman, Anna Brody, Shauna Caldwell, Ariane Crummer, Chelsea Darter, Lucy Deverall, Sarah Eckstine, Joy Hart, Annie Hodgkins, Rachel Jessen, Epiphany Knedler, Ashley Kouri, Raven Moffett, Leah Monsour, Abbi Newfeld, Kristen Roles, Ioanna Sakellaraki, Abigail Smith, Morgan Stephenson, Angelique Strachan, Sam Wrigglesworth. 

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Home

Curated by Davìda Carta

April 2018

What is “home”? This word is charged with underlying meaning and implications. The images in Home span anywhere from the feeling of home, domesticity, the quotidian, the relationship between place and space, people and memories

Featuring work by Phillipa Bloom, Jennie Castle, Elisabetta Cociani, Ginger Cook, Deanna Dikeman, Carissa Dorson , Luar Klinghofer Bar Dov, Amber Eckersley, Kristen Emack, Sara Fahling, Sarah Fields, Jezabeth Gonzalez, Leah Gose, Jamie Ho, Frances Jakubek, Karolina Kase, Epiphany Knedler, Parvathi Kumar, Sara Mcingvale, Kristen McNevins, Sarah Malakoff, Jennifer Mawson, Cristina Rivera, Erika Roa, Karina Rocco, Jesse Shamon, Kaitlyn Jo Smith, Shannon Smith, Morgan Stephenson, Sammy Sweeney, Fiona Szende, Amy Thompson Avishai , Mallory Trecaso, Charlotte Woolf

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Motherhood Unveiled

Curated by Stephanie Shively 

January 2018

"Motherhood Unveiled" presents images that represent “mom” in an all encompassing manner- the good, the bad, the funny, the gross, the heartbreaking, and the triumphant sides of motherhood.

Featuring work by Sarah Ann Austin, Sarah Boccolucci, Marisa Chafetz, Francesca Cesari, Michelle Lee Delgado, Deanna Dikeman, Kristin Dillon, Amanda Driggers, Eva Gjaltema, Annie Hodgkins, Megan Hosmer, Judi Iranyi, Megan Jacobs, Danielle Khoury, Isabel Kiesewetter, Victoria Maidhof, Lily Mayfield, Lindsay McCarty, June Sanders, Annick Sjobakken, Ellen Skoro, Shannon Smith, Vivien Stembridge, Dana Stirling, Alyssa Willey, Tara Wray, and Taylor Yocom

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Exhibitions - 2017

Not For The Faint Of Heart

Curated by Rachael Banks

October 2017
Featuring work by Madeline Cass, Ally Christmas, Krista Darling, Lucy Deverall in collaboration with Kasey Clarke, Sara Fields, Lindsay Godin, Ashley Goodwin, Ani Kington, Emma Kisiel, Megan Lynch, Rebecca Memoli, Nicole Norman, Julia Rowinski, Htet San, Kate Truisi, Sloane Volpe, and Clare Welsh.

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

The Female Gaze: Portraits

Curated by Ashley Kauschinger

April 2017

The Female Gaze: Portraits overturns and examines a trope that perforates the historical (and contemporary) discourse of art: the male gaze. There is a long history of women being looked at rather than being in the more powerful position of looker. This exhibition contributes broad reaching interpretations to a new history of the female gaze.  

Featuring work from Sarah Ann Austin, Rachel Barrett, Anne Berry, Sarah Belclaire, Yael Ben-Zion, Anna Brody, Kelly Burgess, Emily Chiavelli, Ginger Cook, Scarlett Coten, Helen Criales, Adrienne Defendi, Jen Ervin, Britten Leigh, Allison Jarek, Gabby Jones, Rachel Jump, Sarah Lazure, Noelle McCleaf, Morganna McGee, Lydia Panas, Mary Anna Pomonis & Allison Stewart, Greta Pratt, Tara Rice, Nadia Sablin, Nicole Schwartz, Stephanie Shively, Shannon Smith, Azalea Rodriquez, Carolina Sandretto, Erin Tokarz, Emily Wiethorn, Ariel Ione Williams, Emily Yang, Rana Young, and Li Zhang.

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Subversion

Curated by Melissa Kreider

January 2017

Self-portraiture by Sama Alshaibi, Melissa Chu, Vivian Fu, Sarah Maple, Hayley Shasteen, Agnieszka Sosnowska, Stacey Tyrell, and Emily Wiethorn

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Exhibitions - 2016

Auras

Curated by Melissa Kreider

October 2016


Despite photography consistently being relied upon for its validity or truth, it is still prone to great spectacle. A photograph is deemed true only from the angle of which it was made. At any other angle, extensive artifice would reveal itself and break down a credibly real photograph. The photographer attempts to maintain truth or evoke uncertainty of legitimacy through calculated inclusion and exclusion within their frame. Mass reproduction is often condemned for the loss of both authenticity and aura.

Auras features work by Angela Bacon-Kidwell, Amelia Baur, Rebecca Drolen, Elin O’ Hara Slavick, Carly Matthew, and Rebecca McGetrick that emanate aura or question authenticity using vastly different methods. The impact of the work is not lost when reproduced infinitely on your screen.

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Our Open Road

Curated by Melissa Kreider

July 2016

Our Open Road is a reaction to the Aperture Foundation's The Open Road (2015), a breathtaking publication resulting from an equally impressive exhibition. However, the book features only a few women (long live Justine Kurland and Inge Morath). The 11 photographers featured in Our Open Road continue to access the mythology of the American frontier through road trips or inspection of the United States despite historically being denied many of the entitlements that the road trip bestows upon its traveler such as freedom, possibility, escape, or the privilege to wander and subsequently find yourself in the process. The women whose work is featured in this exhibition are adding to the genre of road trip photography or examining the land around them, ultimately speaking to the deep-seated expectation for discovery when embarking upon an exploration of place.

Featuring work from Valerie Chiang, Diane Durant, Jennifer Garza-Cuen, Sant Khalsa, Kim Llerena, Jenna Miller, Michelle Moezam, Allison V. Smith, Sandy Sorlien, Melissa Stallard, and Christine Welch.

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Crashers

Curated by Melissa Kreider

April 2016

There have always been women who reject traditional gender roles and conquer male-dominated fields or reimagine social mores (Hello-Boudica? The Trung Sisters?). Crashers aims to combine the work of women who make photographs about ladies in “unfeminine” roles, explore the alternative possibilities of heterosexual relationships, and study the complexities of gender identity.   

Featuring work from Lois Bielefeld, Nancy Floyd, Laura Golio, and Pixy Liao

All images below are a sampling of the whole exhibition.

Features (2016-2021)

Don’t Smile featured over 75 individuals on a bi-weekly basis on its website. Below is a definitive list in alphabetical order and small sample of features.

McKinna Anderson, Ludovica Anzaldi, Monique Atherton, Rachael Banks, Allison Beondé, Clarissa Bonet, Amanda Breitbach, Anna Brody, Widline Cadet, Clare Carter, Marisa Chafetz, Katrina d’Autrement, Amanda Dahlgren, Chelsea Darter, Deanna Dikeman, Maureen Drennan, ECU BFA Photography | Vision 2020, Dana Fritz, Jennifer Georgescu, Roslyn Julia, Priya Kampli, Ashley Kauschinger, Minjin Kang, KangHee Kim, Mijoo Kim, Megan King, Meghan Kirkwood, Cassandra Klos, Joanna Kulesza, Megan Lynch, Miranda Maynard, Lily Mayfield, Lisa McCarty, Hannah Cooper McCauley, Kristen McNevins, Kathleen Meier, Yorli Mendoza, Tammy Mercure, Raven Moffett, Susan Morelock, Katharine Norton, Celeste Ortiz, Nat Raum, Benedetta Ristori, Lissa Rivera, Jeannette Rodriguez-Pineda, Paige Rowlett, Vera Saltzman, Naomi Shersty, Anna Shimshak, Giulia Simonotti, Rebecca Sittler, Sarah Phyllis Smith, Zihui Song, The Temporary Collective, Alyssa Leigh Thorn, Alicia Tsuchiya, Terri Warpinski, Lindley Warren, M. Katie White, Emily Wiethorn, Laura Wiseman, Tara Wray, Rana Young, Christine Zuercher