Leni Sinclair arrived in Detroit from East Germany in 1959 with only a suitcase and a Zeiss Ikon 35mm camera. She was drawn to Detroit at a moment when the city’s cultural and activist voice was coming into focus, and jumped right in. She recorded creativity around her, from cultural and political events of the time to daily life and street people, police interactions, and musical performances of all kinds.  

Leni’s photographs bear witness to artists of all genres. She was known as the “The girl with the camera,” as she traveled from one performance to another throughout Metro Detroit. LENI: Looking Through the Lens captures the vanguard sound of jazz and the scene in our region in a selection of her images featuring jazz musicians and performances. 

Join us for an evening exhibition opening on Thursday, March 12!