Alvin Lester’s Photographic Legacy Comes Home to NCCU

The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Art Museum will showcase "Through the Lens of Alvin Lester," an exhibition honoring the work of alumnus and acclaimed photographer Alvin Lester through Oct. 16.

Lester's photographs span decades, capturing pivotal moments in history, community life and cultural change. Born in Christiansburg, Virginia, in 1947, he discovered photography as a child and launched his career as a freelance photographer in the early 1970s. His images documented milestones like the development of Soul City, life at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co., and everyday scenes at NCCU, where he earned his fine arts degree in 1977.

From his Durham portrait studio on historic Parrish Street to co-founding Fine Art Images gallery in Richmond, Lester built a legacy as both artist and advocate for African American art. His career also included graduate astudy at North Carolina State University, an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and teaching photography and design. His work appears in major institutions such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

The exhibit invites visitors to experience African American life, identity and legacy through vivid portraits and landscapes dedicated to truth, emotion and memory. The exhibition is also a tribute to Lester's close friend, Larry 'Fuzzy' Lovette.

The NCCU Art Museum is located at 580 East Lawson St. Admission is free and accessible to physically challenged visitors. Hours are Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (919) 530-6211. For group visits, please call in advance.