In 1983, a series of cigar boxes were found under a Red Hill residence, housing Alfred Henrie Elliott’s robust collection of personal photography. The extensive archive of black-and-white imagery of Brisbane at the turn of the century was donated to the City of Brisbane Collection.

This latest exhibition from Museum of Brisbane is showcasing the Elliott Collection through a new lens in a celebration of Brisbane’s photography. New Light: Photography Now + Then will encompass stills, camera equipment and techniques from 1890 to 2024, combining the work of both Elliott and today’s contemporary image makers. “At the heart of New Light: Photography Now + Then lies a dynamic conversation between the past and present,” shares Museum of Brisbane’s CEO and director Zoe Graham.

MoB has enlisted a cohort of Brisbane visual creatives to reframe Elliott’s work through their own gaze. “Seven contemporary photographers have been commissioned to create new works responding to the incredible source material, while also reflecting on the biases and ambiguities found within the archive,” explains exhibition curator Elena Dias-Jayasinha. In addition to the archival Elliott Collection and new works, MoB will also be exhibiting a fascinating collection of black-and-white photography submitted by the public during a community callout earlier this year.

Through its range of perspectives, New Light: Photography Now + Then aims to shape a diverse story of Brisbane throughout time. The exhibition runs from Sunday August 17. Find out more here.