Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon (1923 – 2004) played a key role in developing and defining American visual culture throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Working across fashion photography and portraiture, Avedon re-defined the genres and made a lasting contribution to both. 

Following the lead of earlier photographers such as the Hungarian, Martin Munkásci, Avedon took his models out of the studio and onto the streets. Many of his images from this <em>Harper’s Bazaar</em> period were taken in and around Paris, with his models placed in glamorous, stereotypical French environments such as cafes and nightclubs. His inimitable eye and daring wit created numerous important fashion photographs. Avedon also created a significant body of work focusing on portrait photography. His portraits are characterised by their simple compositions which focus squarely on their subject, pictured straight on.

Avedon’s work has been exhibited internationally and is held in numerous permanent collections, including at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris and the National Portrait Gallery, London.