CAMERA WORK Virtual Gallery has launched a comprehensive exhibition titled "En Plein Air" featuring approximately 30 black and white photographs by internationally acclaimed fashion photographer Arthur Elgort, starting July 30, 2024. The exhibition celebrates the revolutionary work of an artist who fundamentally transformed the fashion photography genre since the early 1970s through his pioneering open-air photography techniques.
The exhibition showcases previously unknown portraits of fashion icons spanning from the late 1980s to the present day, paying tribute to Elgort's significant contributions to both aesthetics and technology in fashion photography. Most notably, the majority of the works displayed will be shown in an exhibition format for the first time, offering viewers a rare glimpse into the photographer's extensive archives.
"I have always favored my subjects to be spontaneous and in spontaneous situations. And obviously, real life, en plein air, presents a much larger palette to work in. So itching to get outside and into the fresh air was always an ever present urge for me," Elgort explained about his distinctive approach to fashion photography.
Elgort's career began in the early 1970s when he established himself as a prominent photographer for prestigious magazines including Mademoiselle and Vogue. During this formative period, he also became the preferred photographer of George Balanchine, the legendary choreographer and co-founder of the New York City Ballet. This collaboration with Balanchine proved instrumental in developing Elgort's mastery of capturing movement in photography, which became the foundation for his later breakthrough as a visual pioneer in the fashion world.
The photographer's background in painting studies provided the essential foundation for his later unmistakable "En Plein Air" style. The term, borrowed from painting and meaning "in the open air," perfectly characterizes Elgort's revolutionary approach to photographing models in natural, living environments rather than in the traditionally controlled studio settings that dominated fashion photography at the time.
Elgort's En Plein Air photographs are renowned for their distinctive lightness and spontaneity. The artist masterfully stages fashion where it naturally occurs, capturing models in moving, everyday situations that lend his photographs a special dynamism and authenticity that was previously unseen in the fashion world. This innovative technique not only connects fashion with reality but also emphasizes the personality of the models and captures the authentic atmosphere of each moment.
Through his groundbreaking work, Elgort has made significant contributions to expanding the boundaries of fashion photography and establishing a style that allows for greater freedom and artistic expression. His exceptional ability to create true and dynamic ambience through the strategic use of natural light sources and unposed poses unmistakably defines his photographic work and establishes him as one of the most influential fashion photographers of his generation.
Elgort's work has been published in the world's leading fashion magazines, including Vogue, Glamour, and Harper's Bazaar Italia, and has inspired countless photographers to follow in his footsteps. His influence on the industry continues to be felt decades after he first introduced his revolutionary approach.
The current exhibition features portraits of some of the most iconic supermodels and fashion personalities, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Alek Wek, and Tatjana Patitz. These portraits showcase Elgort's ability to capture both the glamour and humanity of fashion's biggest stars.
Arthur Elgort was born in New York City in 1940. As a teenager, he attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School before going on to study painting at Hunter College. During his college years, he realized that he wanted to express himself artistically in more diverse ways, which led to his exploration of photography. This artistic journey resulted in the discovery of his natural talent and passion for the photographic medium.
In 1971, Arthur Elgort made his professional debut as a photographer for Mademoiselle magazine and subsequently went on to work for Vogue publications worldwide. At the beginning of the 1970s, Elgort brought a revolutionary breath of fresh air into the previously rigid studio world of fashion photography. Drawing inspiration from the Impressionist movement, the former painting student encouraged his models to act freely and naturally, creating a snapshot aesthetic with them in real-world environments that went far beyond the conventional norms of the time.
Through this innovative approach, Elgort created a lasting and influential place for himself in the world of fashion photography and has maintained a significant impact on the industry throughout his remarkable 50-year career. His works are now part of important international collections and are regularly exhibited in museums worldwide, cementing his legacy as a true master of the craft.
The "En Plein Air" exhibition can be visited at any time of the day exclusively in the gallery's virtual rooms at https://camerawork.de/en/virtualgallery/. For those interested in visiting the physical location, CAMERA WORK Gallery is located at Kantstrasse 149, 10623 Berlin, Germany, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional information can be found at www.camerawork.de/en.
