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Beyond the Mountains: Danny Lyon’s Photography in Haiti, at The Chrysler Museum (Norfolk)
December 31, 2025 - May 17, 2026
On View December 19, 2025 — May 17, 2026
In 1983, photographer Danny Lyon (American, b. 1942) traveled to Haiti to document the country’s club scene. What he ended up capturing was a country in the midst of revolution. Between 1957 and 1986, Haiti endured the rule of the Duvalier regime, during which thousands of Haitians were killed, jailed, or disappeared. Lyon’s black and white photographs show a range of scenes from everyday life to public demonstrations, and conclude with images of the country’s celebrations after the Duvalier family fled the country on February 10th, 1986.
Beyond the Mountains immerses viewers in an important moment in Haitian history through nearly forty photographs from the Chrysler Museum’s permanent collection. The exhibition’s title references a Haitian proverb, “Beyond the mountains there are more mountains,” which is used to encourage resilience in the face of hardship. Taken over three years, Lyon’s images explore themes of power, post-colonialism, and Haitian culture.
Known for working in the immersive style of New Journalism, Lyon began his career photographing the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement. Since then, he has documented bikers, Texas prison inmates, Indigenous nations, and other communities. Lyon’s images of Haiti ultimately represent the perspective of a self-described outsider, prompting reflection on who tells history, whose voices are heard, and how past struggles shape the present.
