London’s Hamiltons Gallery presents Avedon: Glamorous to mark the centenary of Richard Avedon’s birth. In recognition of the gallery’s long-standing collaboration with the artist and to mark this momentous occasion, the exhibition will feature iconic and rarely seen photographs that focus on glamour – a central pillar of his work. Through his unique ability to clothe his subjects with a compelling quality and aesthetic, Avedon was able to make even the most mundane appealing, imbuing some of the most important figures of the 20th century with a sophisticated glamour. Widely recognized as one of the pioneers of modern photography, as well as one of its most influential proponents, Richard Avedon was born in New York City in 1923. His first entry into the world of professional photography was in 1945, under the tutelage of Alexey Brodovitch, then at Harper’s Bazaar. Harper’s Bazaar, along with Vogue in the mid-twentieth century, served as a testing ground for more conscious and imaginative forms of photography.

It is these creative environments that allowed Avedon to explore and develop his own practice as a fine art photographer, and his focus was recognized with his first solo exhibitions at the Smithsonian (1962) and the Minneapolis Institute of Fine Art (1970). He became the first living photographer to be honored with a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1978. The Hamiltons worked closely with the Avedon Foundation to curate this exhibition to highlight and convey the breadth of Avedon’s understanding of how a well-aimed lens has the power to capture a moment that can reveal pure human emotion. His subjects ranged from social activists to high society personalities, from Coco Chanel, Tina Turner, Andy Warhol to Adam Clayton Powell. The exhibition is currently underway and is expected to drop the curtain on 11 August 2023.

Andy Warhol and members of the Factory_ 30 October 1969

Debutante Cotillion New Orleans, Louisiana_  19 February 1963

Tina Turner, dress by Azzaro, New York_ 13 June 1971

Ingrid Boulting, hair by Ara Gallant, New York_ 1 July 1969

The Vicomtesse Jacqueline de Ribes with Raymundo de Larrain, New York_ 16 May 1961

Cover Photo Sunny Harnett and Alla, evening dresses by Balmain, casino, Le Touquet_ August 1954