New Atlanta exhibit showcases Gordon Parks' rare images of the segregated South

A new exhibit in Atlanta is shining a light on the work of legendary photographer Gordon Parks. 

"Gordon Parks: The South in Color" is now on display at Jackson Fine Art. The exhibit offers a powerful look at life in the segregated South through rare color photos many people haven't seen before.

The exhibit marks two major milestones. It's the 70th anniversary of Parks' groundbreaking "Life Magazine" photo essay. And it also celebrates 20 years of The Gordon Parks Foundation.

More than 30 photos are featured from Parks' "Segregation Story" series. Some have never been shown before. One of the most well-known images — "At Segregated Drinking Fountain, Mobile, Alabama" — is also on display.

The exhibit is curated by photographer Dawoud Bey. He brings a fresh perspective to Parks' work, showing both its history and its artistry.

Parks took these photos in 1956 in Mobile, Alabama. He used a handheld camera and shot in color, something that was rare at the time. The images are vivid and carefully composed. They show both struggle and strength in everyday life.

Bey says the photos should be seen not just as history, but as art.

"These photographs deserve as much consideration for the quality of their making as the mission that brought them into being," he wrote.

The exhibit also includes a new limited-edition photo portfolio called "The South in Color." It features 10 images, many focused on children, which was a key part of Parks' work.

The gallery says the goal is to honor the past and help people better understand the stories behind the images.

The exhibit will remain on view through June 13.