Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe facts for kids

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (born July 9, 1951) is a talented American photographer and activist. She is famous for her amazing photos in magazines and books. She also worked hard to help people affected by AIDS.

Growing Up and Learning Photography

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 9, 1951. Her family had roots in Arkansas, New Orleans, and Guadeloupe. Both of her parents worked in art-related jobs. Her mother, Elizabeth Rose Hunt Moutoussamy, designed home interiors. Her father, John Warren Moutoussamy, was an architect.

Her parents wanted her to explore her artistic side. When she was eight, they signed her up for weekend art classes. These classes were at the famous Art Institute of Chicago. At 18, a family friend named Frank Stewart showed her how exciting photography could be.

Jeanne applied to the Cooper Union School of Art. At first, she didn't get in. So, she spent a summer learning from a great photographer named Garry Winogrand. After that, she applied again and was accepted! She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1975. Before graduating, she spent a year in West Africa. There, she did her own photography studies.

Her Photography Career

After college, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe started working. She was a graphic artist and a photojournalist for TV news. She worked for WNBC and WNEW in New York. She also contributed to PM Magazine.

A famous friend, Gordon Parks, gave her a great idea. He suggested she get special permission to photograph a tennis tournament. This was the 1968 United Negro College Fund Tennis Tournament. It was organized by the tennis star Arthur Ashe.

Over the years, Jeanne's photos appeared in many well-known magazines and newspapers. These included Life, Smithsonian, Sports Illustrated, People Weekly, Ebony, and Essence.

Her Family Life

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe married Arthur Ashe in 1977. In December 1986, they adopted a daughter. They named her Camera, which was a nod to Jeanne's photography work.

About a year and a half later, Arthur found out he had HIV. He got the disease from a blood transfusion during heart surgery.

Awards and Recognition

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe's work has been shown in many art exhibits. These shows took place in cities across the United States and Europe. Her photographs are also part of the permanent collections in several important museums.

Some of these museums include:

• The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
• The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
• The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
• The National Portrait Gallery.
• The Whitney Museum of American Art.

Her work is also in private collections, like the one owned by Oprah Winfrey.

Jeanne has received many awards for her amazing work. In 2008, she won the Essence Photography Literary Award. In 1986, she received a special award from the City of Chicago. She also has two honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees. These were given to her by Queens College in 2002 and Long Island University in 1990.