Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts is presenting a brand-new photography exhibition called Be The People: Portraits of Contemporary America. In this free exhibition, Kentucky photographer Jon Cherry captures the true spirit of today’s America while analyzing the truths that define our time.
Cherry’s journalistic photographs offer an impartial reflection on the last five years of life in the United States, exploring how political extremism, grief, pride, misinformation and faith collide to shape our headlines and our understanding of one another. As Kentucky prepares to commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Be The People invites patrons to explore new perspectives, as we all advocate for our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“I hope that viewers can reflect on the lives of their fellow humans through this exhibit. It has been curated to reflect visual similarities between people and our shared experiences,” said Cherry. “I hope that everyone can see themselves in these photographs, no matter their background or upbringing.”
Jon Cherry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and artist based in Kentucky. His work spans a wide range of photographic disciplines, and he is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and Reuters. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2022 for his coverage of the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol.
“Through his art, Jon is an observer and documentarian of the human condition,” said Norton Center Executive Director Steve Hoffman. “We are fortunate as a community to experience his important and timely photography that shows what we have in common as Americans more than what divides us.”
The Norton Center will host a public exhibition reception and gallery talk with Jon Cherry on November 13 from 6–7:30 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition and hear directly from the artist.
Be The People is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. To schedule a group tour, contact the Norton Center box office at 859-236-4692. For more information on the exhibition or the Norton Center’s 2025/2026 season, visit nortoncenter.com.
Be The People was made possible by an America250KY grant from the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council, and a grant from the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. These grants support educational programs, statewide events and activities that commemorate 250 years of American history while considering what it means to be American.