This portrait of New York City firefighter Arthur McLoughlin by photographer Holger Keifel is part of the exhibition “We Will Never Forget,” which runs through Sept. 12 at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown. Submitted photo

YOUNGSTOWN — The Butler Institute of American Art is pulling works from its permanent collection to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The centerpiece of “We Will Never Forget” is five large framed photographs of first responders taken by Holger Keifel in the days after the terrorist attack.

“He was one of the first, if not the first, photographer on site after the buildings came down,” Butler Executive Director Louis Zona said.

Keifel, a German-born photographer who moved to New York in 1993, set up a portable studio at “Ground Zero” on Sept. 13, 2001, and set out to capture the tragedy as reflected in the eyes of the rescue workers at the end of their shifts. Those eyes and faces are shown in color close-ups on prints that measure about 3-foot-by-5-foot.

Ten of Keifel’s images were exhibited at the Butler in 2002, and the artist gave a talk about his experiences creating the work.

According to Wendy Swick, Butler public relations director, the museum acquired the five images for “We Will Not Forget” in 2010 for its permanent collection.

The exhibition also includes video of Keifel talking about his work and quotes from Presidents George W. Bush, Barack H. Obama and Joseph R. Biden and others.

“We Will Never Forget” will be on display through Sept. 12 at the Butler, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Admission is free.

A video tour of the exhibition can be viewed on the museum’s website at butlerart.com.

agray@tribtoday.com