In this episode of “Why Did They Put That in a Museum?” hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees discuss the photographs of a little known photographer, Lusha Nelson. Nelson’s photos were found in a yard sale. Why’d they put them in a museum? These were not just any old thrifted finds. First, they are stunningly beautiful. Plus, Nelson's photographs include portraits of icons and luminaries like Jesse Owens and Katharine Hepburn. The shading and compositions are rich and evocative. Who is Lusha Nelson? He emigrated from Latvia to New York in the 1920’s. He's a self-taught photography who, during the depression, took photos for Condé Nast (yes Condé Nast was an actual person). Nelson's life and career were cut short due to his early death in 1938. Then his works were almost lost to time. Sarah shares a personal connection to this project, recounting that, when she worked at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, someone contacted the museum and offered some prints she and her husband had found in a yard sale many years earlier. Usually, curators politely decline this kind of request. But Sarah and her colleagues took a look and found a treasure trove of stunning portraits and street scenes. Sarah talks about organizing the exhibition of Lusha Nelson’s art in 2017 and the role of museums in sharing work that’s spectacular enough to be preserved and shared with the public.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:23 Meet Lusha Nelson the photographer

00:32 The Discovery of Lusha Nelson's Work

02:19 Iconic Photographs: Jesse Owens and Katharine Hepburn

03:39 The Significance of Nelson's Work

08:23 Sarah’s Personal Connection and Rediscovery of Nelson

12:02 Lusha Nelson's Life and Career

17:01 Street Photography and Lesser-Known Works

20:46 Legacy and Preservation

27:58 Conclusion

To look at Nelson's art, visit:

https://philbrook.org/exhibitions/lusha-nelson-found/

https://www.artnet.com/artists/lusha-nelson/

To reach out to the podcasters, visit:

https://whydtheyputthatinamuseum.com/

Send us a text with ideas for new episodes or just let us know what you think.

© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.