Renowned American photographer Ralph Gibson has surprised the art world by releasing his debut musical single "Altar Boy," marking a revolutionary fusion of visual and auditory art. The track represents the first musical release from his ambitious "Vu, Imprévu" series, which transforms fifteen of his most iconic photographs into original musical compositions. The full album is scheduled for release on October 31, 2025.
The "Vu, Imprévu" series, which Gibson launched in 2018, stems from his desire to musically revisit fifteen of his most emblematic images by composing an original piece for each photograph. These extraordinary "double-works," presented as framed silver prints accompanied by handwritten sheet music and MP3 files, represent a rare and unprecedented artistic format. The series was recently exhibited at the Venet Foundation and featured in a book published by IKKI Books.
The debut single and forthcoming album, published by Melmax Music and Bigaignon, complete this innovative artistic project. Gibson, celebrated for his groundbreaking visual vocabulary particularly through his 1970s "Trilogy" – "The Somnambulist" (1970), "Déjà-Vu" (1973), and "Days at Sea" (1974) – is also a talented guitarist. He discovered the guitar at age 13, four years before dedicating himself to photography at 17.
Throughout his career, Gibson has maintained his identity as an eternal student, convinced that there is always something new to learn from both photography and music. This unique series offers art enthusiasts and collectors an exceptional opportunity to explore a previously unknown facet of the American master's genius and rediscover some of his most iconic photographs under a completely new light.
The photographs in the series, taken between 1968 and 1990, are accompanied by musical pieces specially composed, performed, and recorded by the artist in his New York studio. This groundbreaking project represents one of the most innovative crossovers between visual and musical arts in recent years, showcasing Gibson's multifaceted artistic talents and his continued evolution as a creative force well into his career.
