Florida Museum of Photographic Arts honors Bud Lee with exhibition, memorial service

Photo Credit: Todd Bates

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) will pay tribute to acclaimed photographer, Bud Lee, with an exhibition and memorial service on July 11, 2015.

Bud Lee started his professional career as a photographer for the U.S. Army publication, Stars and Stripes. After being named the 1966 U.S. Military photographer of the year, Lee began working for LIFE Magazine, his coverage of the Newark riots garnering him two covers and the publication’s prestigious Photographer of the Year award in 1967.

In the ensuing years, Lee traveled the world as an in-demand freelance photographer for Esquire, Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, Town & Country, the London Times, Vogue, Mother Jones, Ms. Magazine, London Records, and Columbia Records. In 1972, Lee founded the Iowa Photographers’ Workshop and helmed the University of Iowa Journalism School’s photography department.

With grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Lee began the Artist-Filmmaker-in-the-Schools program in Tampa where he also founded the Artist and Writers Trust and the Florida Photographer’s Workshop, as well as co-founded the annual Artists and Writers Ball in Tampa.

“In addition to his significant contributions as a nationally and internationally prominent photographer, Bud Lee made nothing short of a transformative impact on the Tampa photography and arts communities. We are deeply honored to be a part of this tribute,” says Zora Carrier, FMoPA’s Executive Director.

Visitation with the Lee family and a viewing of works by and inspired by Mr. Lee begins at 5 p.m., followed by a service at 6 p.m. The Lee family asks that in lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations be made to the Artist & Writers Group for the preservation of Bud’s archive and that checks be earmarked with “Bud Lee” and mailed to Steckley Lee, 1001 Pinedale Drive, Plant City, FL 33563.

About FMoPA: The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is a Tampa museum dedicated to exhibiting important photographic art as central to contemporary life and culture. FMoPA collects, preserves, and exhibits historic and contemporary works by nationally and internationally known photographic artists. FMoPA also enriches the community by operating outreach programs for children and adults and by offering an extensive array of photography classes. For more information, visit www.FMoPA.org.