Originally presented at G.R. N’Namdi Gallery Chicago in 1999, Seeing in the Dark marks an important early chapter in Rashid Johnson’s artistic career. As the first gallery to represent the artist, G.R. N’Namdi Gallery introduced an intimate body of photographs that would foreshadow Johnson’s enduring exploration of race, identity, class, and the cultural significance of materials. 

Created during his formative years in Chicago, Seeing in the Dark emerged from Johnson’s encounters with men experiencing homelessness in downtown Chicago, near his South Michigan Avenue studio. Through these personal interactions, Johnson sought to bridge social and economic divides, capturing his subjects with individuality, humanity, and dignity. Each portrait bears the name of the subject, emphasizing personal identity rather than circumstance and challenging conventional representations of homelessness. 

Central to the series is Johnson’s deliberate embrace of 19th century photographic techniques. Using a traditional 8 by 10 inch Deardorff camera, he photographed his subjects and developed the portraits through the historic Van Dyke Brown printing process. This alternative photographic method involved hand brushing a light sensitive chemical solution directly onto paper before exposing it to natural sunlight to develop the images producing rich, warm brown tones. The visible brushstrokes surrounding the images reveal the artist’s hand and make each photograph a unique work. 

Seeing in the Dark represents an early expression of Johnson’s ability to transform materials into vehicles for cultural and social commentary. The series established a foundation for the material experimentation and conceptual investigations that would become defining characteristics of his internationally recognized practice. 

From Seeing in the Dark’s original exhibition in Chicago 1999 at G.R. N’Namdi Gallery to its subsequent exhibition in Miami, N’Namdi Contemporary has played a formative and enduring role in showcasing Rashid Johnson’s early artistic vision. By revisiting these seminal works across generations and cities, the gallery continues to underscore their timeless relevance and lasting significance within Johnson’s evolving artistic legacy.