Photographing Nancy Schön’s “My Truth”: A Bold New Chapter from a Boston Icon
If you’ve spent any time in Boston, you probably know Nancy Schön’s work, especially her Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Public Garden or Tortoise and the Hare in Copley Square. Her bronzes are beloved, playful, and instantly recognizable.
So when I was invited into Nancy’s Newton studio to photograph her and her newest body of work, I knew it would be something special. What I didn’t expect was how deeply her latest exhibit, My Truth, would resonate with me.
At 96, Nancy reflects on her personal truth, and this new collection shows it. It’s political. It’s emotional. It’s personal. And it’s a big shift from the whimsical public art that made her a household name.
The exhibit features 25 pieces, including bronze sculptures and mixed-media works. Pieces like Ukraine, a brutal military boot with a fanged bear about to crush a tiny bird, stop you in your tracks. Justice shows robed Supreme Court justices posed as Klansmen. Another, Love Affair, shows busts of Trump and Hitler leaning in for a kiss. Nancy doesn’t pull punches.
Her studio was filled with little details and layered stories. Every corner had something new to discover.
Most of my work is commercial, editorial, and lifestyle photography. I shoot for CPG brands, agencies, schools, and small businesses, but storytelling is at the center of everything I do. Whether I’m capturing a founder in their element or a product in the wild, it’s about making something honest and impactful.
With Nancy, that meant stepping into a deeply personal moment. She’s speaking out — through bronze, through found objects, through mixed media — and it was my job to reflect that.
One of the biggest takeaways? People, brands included, respond to authenticity. Nancy’s not trying to please everyone. She’s just telling her truth. And people are listening.
If you’re local, My Truth will be on view at her studio in Newton:
Friday, June 27 | 5–9 PM
Saturday & Sunday, June 28–29 | 12–5 PM
All the work is for sale and worth seeing in person.
If you're a brand or agency looking to create images that connect, whether that’s lifestyle content, a founder portrait, or editorial storytelling, I’d love to hear what you're working on.
