Published October 1, 2026

CAPTION: Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang: Shaanxi Province in the 1960s-2000s was hosted in ULM’s Walker Hall in the Spring of 2026. The exhibit will now move to Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Gallery, with an opening reception on October 1.  

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MONROE, La. – Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang: Shaanxi Province in the 1960s-2000s is moving from ULM to the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Gallery. 
 
In summer 2025, the Tan Family gathered to honor Tianyu Wang, esteemed Chinese photojournalist, by creating the Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication. In Spring 2026, ULM hosted its first-ever donor-driven photo exhibit, Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang: Shaanxi Province in the 1960s-2000s. 
 
Today, October 1, showcases the first-ever partnership between ULM and the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, and doubles as a fundraiser for the scholarship.  

 
An opening reception of this exhibit, and a first chance to purchase these incredible works, will be hosted from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Arts Council in conjunction with the Downtown Gallery Art Crawl. The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Gallery is located at 118 Cotton St. in West Monroe. 

Proceeds from this exhibition will support upperclassmen pursuing a degree in Communication, with a focus in photojournalism. The fundraising goal is $2,000, which will allow 3 students to receive awards in the 2027-2028 year.  
 
Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang: Shaanxi Province in the 1960s-2000s will be on display from October 1 – November 5. Xiaoan Wang, daughter of Tianyu Wang, invites the community to connect with the people, history, and culture of Shaanxi Province by experiencing this exhibition.  
 
 
About the Exhibit

The photos in the exhibition were taken in Shaanxi Province, China, where Mr. Wang was a lifelong resident, from the 1960s to 2000s. Mr. Wang traveled extensively throughout Shaanxi Province over the course of his career, using his camera to document the people, events, and landscapes around him and capture thousands of photos. The photographs in the exhibit are divided into three categories: News Photography, Arts and Culture, and Landscapes. The family says they curated a collection of photos in these three categories to demonstrate how Mr. Wang understood photography as both documentation and storytelling.   

“We hope viewers will get a glimpse of the people, places, and moments captured in the photos, and we hope it will spark curiosity for viewers to learn about the modern and ancient history of China. We also hope it will inspire viewers to appreciate photography as both an art form and a historical record and to consider the impact of photographs on how audiences reflect on and interpret their significance and meaning,” said Xiaoan Wang. 

A learning resource page was developed to provide historical context and encourage further exploration.  

About Tianyu Wang  

TIANYU WANG | 王天育  

Tianyu Wang was an award-winning photographer, author, and journalist (born 1939, Baoji, China – died 2024, Xi’an, China). Over the course of his decades-long career, which spanned news and documentary films, photojournalism, and news reporting, he held posts including Senior Photojournalist at the Shaanxi Daily, the Vice President of the Shaanxi Art Photography Society, and the Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Branch of the China Photographers Association.  

Tianyu Wang was a self-taught photographer, refining his technique and creative approach through experimentation and hands-on practice. He was passionate about photography and believed photography could educate, preserve history, and inspire progress. He was a strong supporter of higher education and mentored other aspiring photojournalists who went on to be successful.  

Over the course of his career, Wang took tens of thousands of photos and edited and published more than 50 editions of pictorial magazines. Many of his works were exhibited domestically in China and showcased abroad. He also penned articles on the theory and practice of news photography, which were published by outlets such as the Shaanxi People’s Fine Arts Publishing House and lauded by his peers as “a selfless contribution to China’s news photography industry.”   

Wang also authored books showcasing photos and text to represent the rich culture, natural scenery, and beauty of Shaanxi Province in China. His publications received praise from critics as rich and detailed records that capture the interweaving of the ancient and modern traditions of the region in a colorful, encyclopedic epic.