Join us for Culture & Cocktails, Ogden Museum’s evening series celebrating art, ideas and conversation. This evening features Bradley Sumrall, Curator of the Collection, in conversation with Jenny Bagert, former business and archive manager to the legendary jazz photographer Herman Leonard.

Begin your night with a private tour of Herman Leonard: Images of Jazz presented by The Helis Foundation, with Bradley Sumrall, while enjoying a signature cocktail inspired by its themes. Following the tour, Bagert will share an insider’s perspective on what makes this collection of photographs so distinctive. Having managed Leonard’s archive for a decade and counted him as a friend, Bagert offers a rare, firsthand view of his work and creative process—including his approaches to lighting, shooting and printing. She will also reflect on what made him one of the most memorable people in the room and what set him apart as both a person and an artist.

What to Expect:

• Start with an exclusive after-hours viewing of a featured exhibit
• Enjoy one complementary beverage included with registration (signature cocktail, mocktail, wine and beer available)
• Engage in a dynamic conversation with curators and special guests, delving into artistic styles, traditions, techniques and the rich stories behind the work

$20 members / $25 not-yet-members

About Jenny Bagert

/// Image Credit: Dave Sobel

Jenny Bagert fell in love with photography at 12, when her parents gave her a Nikon FE2 camera and she began working in the darkroom. In her twenties, she worked as a photographer, primarily with musicians, including work that appeared on Grammy Award–winning records. At 24, she became business and archive manager to Herman Leonard, a role she held for a decade—and one that shaped everything that came after.

After her early work as a photographer and her time with Leonard, Bagert shifted to full-time work with artists and collections, founding Jenny Bagert Consulting to focus on producing and managing photographic projects. She continues this work today and, in 2020, started Ground Control Consulting, where she works on large-scale, mission-driven projects with nonprofits. She is based in New Orleans, her hometown and where she most wants to be.