David Bailey
Jane Birkin, 1969
Fashion Network
September 20, 2023
by CHenu Alexis
Fashion photographer David Bailey exhibits his iconic images at Fahey/Klein Gallery
From the Rolling Stones to Catherine Deneuve, Andy Warhol and Elizabeth II, London-based English photographer David Bailey revolutionized the art of portraiture and fashion photography in the 60s, capturing the essence of swinging London, a period when London was considered the capital of pop culture and fashion.
A master of black-and-white photography, the 84-year-old Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles will present a selection of his work from September 28, including images of luminaries of fashion, music, and fine art. Among the photographs on show will be those of the recently deceased singer Jane Birkin, Naomi Campbell, Michael Caine, David Hockney, Helmut Newton, Jean Shrimpton and Mick Jagger.
David Bailey was born in London in 1938. His childhood shaped his early experiences in the East End during the Blitz of WWII. Having left school at fifteen, he was conscripted into the Royal Air Force in 1956. Whilst posted in Singapore, he bought his first camera and was inspired to be a photographer after seeing Cartier Bresson’s photograph, “Kashmir”.
Bailey started working with fashion photographer John French as his assistant in 1959 then published his first portrait of Somerset Maugham for Today magazine in 1960. Bailey’s meteoric rise at British Vogue in the early 60’s was followed by the publication, in 1965, of his first photography book, Box of Pin-Ups, which depicted media stars such as Mick Jagger, The Beatles and Andy Warhol, among many others.
The exhibition at Fahey/Klein Gallery is scheduled to run until November 11.