News

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Penelope Dixon

08.15.2025

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our founder, colleague, and dear friend, Penelope Dixon. A pioneering figure in the world of fine art photographic appraisals, Penelope’s expertise, vision, and passion helped shape the field as we know it today, and inspired everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.

After serving as Director of Photography at the auction houses Phillips, Son & Neale and Argus Ltd. in the late 1970s, Penelope founded Penelope Dixon & Associates in 1981. Among the first specialists to focus exclusively on the valuation of photography, she quickly became a trusted authority in her field, known for her meticulous research, thoughtful analysis, and unwavering dedication to the highest professional standards.

Over her distinguished career, Penelope appraised the archives and estates of many of photography’s most iconic figures, including Berenice Abbott, Harold Edgerton, Walker Evans, André Kertész, and Annie Leibowitz. Her expertise was sought by many of the world’s leading institutions, such as the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.  Known internationally, she frequently collaborated with collectors, museums, and photographers across the globe, including Anton Bruehl in Australia, Don McClellan in the United Kingdom and David Thomson in Canada. Her reports became a benchmark for excellence, relied upon by major collections including The New York Times, the Time/Life Picture Collection, National Geographic, and Magnum Photos, New York.

Penelope’s passion for photography extended beyond appraisals. As a founder of the Photography Collection Preservation Project (PCPP), she worked tirelessly to ensure that important archives were preserved for future generations, safeguarding the legacies of countless photographers.

For those of us who had the privilege of calling her a partner, mentor, and friend, Penelope was more than a pioneer in her field, she was a source of wisdom, kindness, and unwavering support. Her influence will continue to guide the work of Penelope Dixon & Associates, and her memory will remain an enduring part of all that we do.