A new photography exhibition featuring the late Paul Jasmin's work offers an intimate glimpse into Los Angeles through sensual, glowing portraits of young dreamers and lovers. The exhibition, titled "Fade to West," showcases Jasmin's evocative vision of the city and its youthful inhabitants, highlighting his significant contribution to defining LA's visual language.
Paul Jasmin, who passed away in May at the age of 90, spent decades capturing the essence of Los Angeles through his lens. His photographs depict both real and imagined dreamers, creating images that evoke a sensual and glamorous ideal while remaining firmly rooted in reality. The exhibition features iconic works such as "Kiss me quick - Charlotte and Clint, Big Bear" from 1998, which serves as the main image for the show.
Born in Helena, Montana, Jasmin began his artistic journey in 1954, traveling through Paris, Morocco, and New York before eventually settling in the city of dreams. He turned to photography in the 1970s after encouragement from his friend Bruce Weber, developing a long and successful career as both a fashion and art photographer. His transition to fine art photography marked the beginning of his exploration into themes of youth, innocence, and sexuality.
Jasmin's photographic style is characterized by compassion and quiet curiosity, creating dreamlike tableaux that transport viewers into a world of seductive beauty and languid allure. His images include portraits such as "Josh, San Fernando Valley" (2003), "Jerreth, Los Angeles" (2009), "Ben, Los Angeles" (2003), and "Jason, Los Angeles" (2007). These works reveal a version of Los Angeles that feels deeply personal, suspended in time, and tenderly observed.
The photographer's work extends beyond individual portraits to capture intimate group dynamics and relationships. Notable pieces include "Clint, Charlotte, and Oliver, Big Bear" (1998), "Josie and Paula, Hollywood" (1991), "Ben and Josh, Ojai" (2000), and the mysterious "Lost Boy" from 1989. These images explore the tension between aspiration and reality, reflecting Jasmin's lifelong fascination with glamour, the American dream, and fleeting moments of becoming.
"Fade to West" is presented as a joint exhibition with photographer Todd Weaver, developed in collaboration with Jasmin prior to his death. The show celebrates both Jasmin's artistic legacy and his enduring love affair with Los Angeles. According to the exhibition description, both photographers render California not as an ideal or illusion, but as a living, breathing place that glows brightest in moments that never last.
Jasmin's evocative portraits and cinematic vignettes offer a comprehensive portrait of a place defined by light, youth, and transience. His photographs are set largely in and around Los Angeles, with some venturing to nearby locations like Big Bear, the San Fernando Valley, Ojai, and even Death Valley for the 1998 portrait "Erika, Death Valley." Though neither Jasmin nor Weaver were California natives, both were drawn to a city as radiant and restless as themselves.
The exhibition emphasizes how Jasmin embodied the essence of Los Angeles, capturing not only its landscapes and people but also its elusive atmosphere. His work distills a precise and evocative vision of beauty, staging moments of youth and intimacy against the soft glow of the city's ambient warmth. The photographs demonstrate his ability to find and capture the magical quality of light that makes Los Angeles unique.
"Fade to West: Paul Jasmin and Todd Weaver" is currently on display at the Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles and will continue through September 13. The exhibition serves as both a tribute to Jasmin's artistic vision and a celebration of his contribution to the visual documentation of Los Angeles culture. Additionally, a companion gallery of Todd Weaver's images is scheduled to appear online, providing viewers with a complete picture of this collaborative artistic vision.
