Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits - Public Opening Celebration

Join us to celebrate the opening of Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits at RMIT Gallery.

Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits introduces us to Alan Adler (1932 – 2024), who while little known, was the oldest and longest serving photobooth technician in the world.

For over 50 years, Adler maintained a fleet of photobooths across Melbourne/Narrm, most notably the site at Flinders Street Station. As part of his weekly service, he would take a strip of test shots, now forming an extraordinary visual archive of over a thousand self-portraits.

Adler’s story shows a fascinating dedication to repetitious image making and is supported by the artworks of Melbourne creatives who have passionately used his photobooths.

Marking 100 years of the photobooth, Auto-Photo is one of many worldwide events that celebrate the centenary and reflect on the significance of this analogue machine.

Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits features Adler’s extensive archive, alongside additional exhibits and works of art from the collections of Katherine Griffiths, Mark Holsworth, Kyle Archie Knight, Ruth O’Leary, Nicky Makin, Jesse Marlow, Brian Meacham, Metro Auto Photo, Patrick Pound and Joshua Smith.  

Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits is a Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP) exhibition, presented in partnership with RMIT Culture.

Curated by Catlin Langford with Christopher Sutherland and Jessie Norman (Metro Auto Photo)

 

Image: Alan Adler, Photobooth strips, courtesy of Metro Auto Photo

Share

Related events

1220x732-polly-stanton-2.jpg

Women of the Ice

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 17 Apr 2026

This public program offers insights from five women who have journeyed to the Far South. Hear as they offer personal experiences and reflections from the front lines of a changing climate.

1220x732-platcha-hut.jpg

Designing for Extremes

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 30 Apr 2026

What can Antarctica, a living laboratory for extreme environments, teach us about the NOW?

1220x732-creative-writing-on-creative-antarctica.jpg

Creative Writing on Creative Antarctica

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 01 May 2026

“You stand there so nice in your blizzard of ice, oh please let me come into the storm” – Leonard Cohen, 'One of Us Cannot Be Wrong', 1966

aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures