Misty Copeland Ballet Photos Reveal Vulnerability and Quiet Moments Behind Legendary Career

A new exhibition at Leica Gallery New York brings ballet into focus. But it’s not a grand stage spectacle as we know it, it’s something quieter and more intimate. Ballet, a group exhibition by Henry Leutwyler, Diana Markosian, and Kylie Shea, features intimate photos that look at dance from the inside out. At the heart of the show are never-before-seen images of Misty Copeland, captured around her final performance.

This exhibition isn’t about flashy performances or dramatic stage lighting. It’s about what ballet feels like when the curtain drops. The photos are moving and different from what I’m used to seeing, so I’m very grateful to be able to share them here.

[Related Reading: How I photographed my ballet-dancing son at home during the lockdown]

Who Is Misty Copeland?

Okay, I believe most of us know who Misty Copeland is. Even I know it, and I know nearly nothing about ballet. Misty’s career has reshaped how many people see ballet. She changed the ballet by being visible, persistent, and uncompromising about who she was. For countless dancers and creatives, seeing Misty on stage meant seeing possibility where it hadn’t existed before.

Misty Copeland began ballet relatively late, starting formal training at age 13 in California. Despite that, she progressed quickly and joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company in 2000. In 2001, she became a member of ABT’s corps de ballet, marking the start of her professional career with the company. Over the next decade, she steadily advanced while dealing with major setbacks, including a serious leg injury in 2012 that temporarily halted her career.

In 2015, Misty was promoted to principal dancer, becoming the first Black woman to hold that role at American Ballet Theatre. Alongside performing, she expanded her work into writing, public speaking, and advocacy, publishing books and speaking openly about representation and access in the arts. She continued performing with ABT for several more years, and her final performances marked the close of a career that changed both the company’s history and the wider conversation around ballet.

But what makes this exhibition special is that it doesn’t try to summarize her career with highlights. Instead, it slows things down. The photos focus more on moments of transition than the performance itself. There’s a sense of stillness in these images that feels honest, even vulnerable. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but this vulnerability resonates deep with me.

A Word About Ballet Photography

Photographing ballet is tricky, and it can be especially tricky on stage because the lights are often dim and you need lots of perfectly timed light to freeze the movement. A fraction of a second too early or too late, and the image loses its balance. That’s why patience matters just as much as technical skill. The best ballet photos often come from waiting and watching, but most of all, understanding the art form.

Light and setting also shape how these images feel. Some photographers work in controlled spaces, others in homes, studios, or outdoors. Removing the stage changes everything. Suddenly, ballet feels less distant and more personal. That’s what I felt with these photos of Misty as well.

[Related Reading: Swan Lake meets Salt Lake in this magical aerial ballet photography project]

Exhibition Details And What To Expect

Ballet brings together three distinct photographic approaches, all connected by a shared respect for movement and the people behind it. From backstage moments to self-portraiture, the exhibition presents ballet as lived experience rather than performance alone.

The opening reception takes place on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 6 to 8 PM. It’s followed by a gallery talk on Saturday, February 21 between 11 AM and 12:30 PM, with Henry Leutwyler, Diana Markosian, Kylie Shea, and Misty Copeland. The exhibition will be on display from February 19 until March 29, 2026 at Leica Gallery New York, 406 West 13th Street, New York, NY.

Okay, I’ll leave you now to enjoy the images. And if you’re in New York or life takes you there in February and March 2026, make sure to visit Leica Gallery and see them in person.

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