BURNING FLAGS, a powerful exhibition by legendary photographer Glen E. Friedman, is now available for circulation to museums in the US through 2028. The exhibition features Friedman's iconic imagery of early hip-hop, hardcore punk and skateboarding in the United States. The exhibition's national tour premiered at the Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa, OK, following popular presentations in Barcelona and Paris.

Featuring over 50 photos, plus 6 audio essays read by the subjects, and memorabilia, the exhibition presents striking images of artists who have shaped cultural landscapes, including Ian MacKaye, Ice-T, Tony Alva, Jello Biafra, Chuck D., Alan “Ollie” Gelfand and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. Friedman, known for his raw and uncompromising photography of the hardcore punk, hip-hop and skateboarding scenes, captures the rebellious spirit of these icons.

“My BURNING FLAGS exhibition is the enduring photographic legacy of the passionate, iconoclastic individuals I respected and have created with, since 1976 as a young teen — radical skateboarders, revolutionary musical and cultural icons that inspired me. The communities of resistance and integrity these originators helped build are here to stay. It is fitting, then, that the U.S. premiere of this work take place in America’s heartland, at the Woody Guthrie Center, the home of an artist who spent his life fighting against fascism, and for the rights of ordinary people. I am honored and humbled to have the appreciation and support of the American Song Archives to make this possible.”
                                                                     - Glen E. Friedman

Senior Director of the Woody Guthrie Center, Cady Shaw, writes, "BURNING FLAGS embodies the same fearless activism and cultural commentary that defined Woody Guthrie’s life and work. Friedman’s photography tells the story of artists who, like Woody, used their voices to challenge the status quo and advocate for a better world. We are honored to share this exhibition with our community and continue the dialogue about art as a vehicle for social change.”

Friedman, is available for lectures, gallery talks and book signings, and to participte in programming and special events.

The exhibition tour is being managed by Photographic Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA. For more information and to schedule dates please contact PTE at info@p-t-e.org or 310 397 3098.

Glen E. Friedman, universally considered to be one of the most prominent photographers of his generation, is best known for his influential images of rebellious artists from the golden eras of skateboarding, punk and hip-hop. His photographs of key figures such as Fugazi, Black Flag, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Ice-T, Bad Brains and Dead Kennedys, as well as skateboarding originators Tony Alva and Jay Adams, among many others, not only cemented the importance of these radical subcultures at their beginnings, but have also become the definitive graphic documents of them today. Friedman’s ubiquitous presence in the early stages of such significant movements allowed him a platform to frame the intense spirit of progression and angst that defined an era. His approach, more incendiary than documentary, has fueled a prolific career: since being first published at age 14 in 1976, he has contributed to countless magazine pages and more than 100 record covers, and has authored more than a dozen books. Friedman’s work is included in numerous world-class institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan Library and Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Exhibition Facts

Schedule
as of 12/5/25

2025
September 19, 2025 - February 15, 2026
Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa, OK

2026 - 2028
OPEN