Join us on Thursday, September 17 from 5 to 7 pm for the opening reception of The Magic Ingredient, a photography exhibition by Birmingham-based photographer Mary Fehr, and a chance to meet the artist behind the work.
Mary has a special way of capturing the people and places that make Birmingham shine. In The Magic Ingredient, she turns her lens toward the city’s food community, featuring portraits of the chefs, owners and teams behind some of Birmingham’s favorite restaurants.
The exhibition is a celebration of the people behind the places we know and love — and the creativity, hard work and hospitality that have helped make Birmingham such a special place to eat.
Come raise a glass with Mary, get a first look at the exhibition and help us kick off a week celebrating Birmingham’s food community as the Southbound Food Festival gets underway.
Can’t join us for the opening? Stop by anytime during the Southbound Food Festival to see The Magic Ingredient on view throughout The Studios Building at Pepper Place.
Headshot by Katherine Mullen
ABOUT Mary Fehr
I’m Mary Fehr, a Birmingham-based photographer drawn to honest moments, bold color, and meaningful connection.
I am a Birmingham, Alabama native and love living here in the city.
In 2016 I graduated from the University of Montevallo where I studied art and art history.
Now I am a full time commercial and wedding photographer in Birmingham, Alabama.
My work lives somewhere between documentary and editorial. I want my images to feel both real and artful, grounded and expressive. Whether I’m photographing a person, a place, or a story, my goal is always the same: to create photographs that feel alive and true.
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom documented our family, and watching her showed me the power photographs have over time. I later studied art with a concentration in photography, where I developed a deeper understanding of visual storytelling and found inspiration in art history, classical sculpture, painting, and fashion. Those influences continue to shape how I see light, form, and emotion.