Richard Avedon (1923–2004) photographed the faces of an era, from fashion icons to civil rights activists. Over six decades he shaped the visual language of »Harper’s Bazaar«, »Vogue« and »The New Yorker«, redefining both fashion photography and the portrait. Retrospectives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art attest to his lasting influence.

Avedon brought movement and narrative to fashion photography, taking models out of the studio and onto the street, into the circus and to the beach. In his portraits he reduced everything to the essentials: against a stark white background, posture, gesture and expression become clues to personality. »I have great faith in surfaces«, he once said. His portrait cycles on the Civil Rights movement and the American West reveal the depth of his engagement with his time.

Throughout its history, CAMERA WORK has presented several exhibitions dedicated to Richard Avedon. His life’s work has profoundly influenced generations of photographic artists and continues to be celebrated and honored by the gallery.