Private Eye features a selection of contemporary photographs from a promised gift to the Museum by Allen G. Thomas Jr. in honor of Dr. Lawrence Wheeler's 20th anniversary as director of the NCMA. Ranging in date from 1993 to 2011, the photographs in the exhibition are by Jeff Bark, Matthew Baum, Jordi Bernadó, Jesse Burke, Anthony Goicolea, Bill Jacobson, Chris Jordan, Sze Tsung Leong, Chris McCaw, Ryan McGinley, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison, Jack Pierson, Kerry Skarbakka, Alec Soth, and Shen Wei.

The works include expressive portraits, otherworldly landscapes, and abstractions of the natural world, providing both an introduction to the diversity of contemporary photography and the very personal and passionate point of view of one singular collector.