Terry O'Neill: Infamous

Alon Zakaim Fine Art

TERRY O’NEILL

INFAMOUS


5-7 Dover St. London W1S 4LD30 Cork St. London W1S 3NG T +44 (0)20 7287 7750F +44 (0)20 7287 [email protected]

TERRY O’NEILL

INFAMOUS

This publication coincides with the exhibition

TERRY O’NEILL

INFAMOUS

On view:Tuesday 1st May - Friday 8th June 2012Private View: Tuesday 1st May, 6 - 8.30pm

Alon Zakaim Fine Art5-7 Dover StreetLondon W1S 4LD

Gallery opening hours:Monday-Friday, 9am - 6pmWeekends by appointment only

© 2012 Alon Zakaim Fine Art. All rights reserved.

Front coverFrank Sinatra, Miami, 1968

Page 3Muhammad Ali, Dublin, 1972 (detail)

Terry O’Neill with his Brigitte Bardot © Reinier RVDA

Introduction

Alon Zakaim Fine Art is proud to present ‘Infamous’, a new exhibition of the works of legendary British photographer Terry O’Neill. The expansive show, to be held at our new Dover Street gallery, will place some of O’Neill’s most exciting and iconic works, spanning his fifty year career, alongside previously unseen images and extremely rare vintage prints of celebrities and cultural figures. Each work bears the intuitive approach and cinematic quality for which he has forged a reputation as being one of the most acclaimed and collected photographers of recent decades.

O’Neill’s works depict unparalleled intimacy and honesty, whilst also capturing the mood of the moment. They creatively interpret and express the personality of each of his sitters whilst offering the onlooker an insight into the subject’s personality and lifestyle. Since first picking up a camera in 1962, O’Neill has captured the frontline of fame, in particular the emerging rock stars of the Sixties. These images have now reached cult status, including those of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones whilst they were still struggling young bands. He has chronicled over two decades of Frank Sinatra’s life in front of the lens and produced unique and intimate photographs of icons such as Muhammad Ali, Brigitte Bardot, Sean Connery, Raquel Welch, Audrey Hepburn and many more.

Terry O’Neill says: “My works portray the featured stars as they really are, and not how we often see them, distorted by their management and the paparazzi. The photographs really do chronicle the feel of the decades they were shot in and offer viewers a celebrity-led trip through my sixty year career behind the camera.” Previously unexhibited works of Brigitte Bardot, Ursula Andress, Sean Connery and Kate Moss will appear alongside his seminal shots of Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali and a wide array of other celebrities taken from O’Neill’s expansive oeuvre, each presented mounted under diasec to emphasise the works’ cinematic realism, a framing method never before used for O’Neill’s work.

Alongside numerous other achievements throughout his career, O’Neill has won the 2011 Centenary Medal from the Royal Photographic Society, the highest honour in British photography; and his image of Faye Dunaway in a Beverly Hills hotel was voted the most iconic Hollywood photograph of all time by American Photo. O’Neill has numerous works held in the archives of both The National Portrait Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum. A carefully chosen selection of classic and new and unseen works go on display at Alon Zakaim Fine Art’s Dover Street gallery in London’s Mayfair from 1st May until 8th June 2012.

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Captions

Frank Sinatra on the Boardwalk, Miami, 1968 This picture was taken on the first day of filming, as Frank walked from his hotel The Fontainebleau, to the set of ‘The Lady in Cement’. “This was the first time I ever saw Frank and I was astonished how the power of his presence mesmerized onlookers as he walked casually by.” Brigitte Bardot, Spain, 1971“The first time I met Brigitte I was surprised. I’d expected a pouting sex kitten. But she was tall and elegant with a great pair of legs. One minute she was graceful and aloof and the next funny and mischievous. I guess that’s what we expect of beautiful French women – they have the confidence to be grand or girlie.” Audrey Hepburn, St Tropez, 1967“I was taking some portraits of Audrey on the set of ‘Two for the Road’ when out of nowhere this dove landed on her shoulder. I was lucky to capture a couple of frames before it flew off.” Ursula Andress, London, 1967“Ursula will always be the bird who walked out of the surf in Dr No, wearing a white bikini with a knife in her belt. But for me she was more beautiful in the comedy Bond spoof Casino Royale a few years later, when her looks and comedic talent really made those blonde bombshell looks sparkle. She has to be one of the movies’ most enticing sirens of all time.” Frank Sinatra, Miami, 1968 “I was introduced to Frank through Ava Gardner. She wrote a letter of introduction for me to give to Frank when I met him. I don’t know what the letter said but Frank opened the door to me and I never looked back. I worked with him for over 20 years, covering his concerts, rehearsals and films. Frank never queried anything I did. I could walk in whenever I liked and take photos of whatever I liked. Frank had this air about him; he really did light up a room when he walked in.“ Brigitte Bardot with Cigar, Spain, 1971Terry’s most iconic image hangs permanently in The National Portrait Gallery. “During rehearsals for ‘The Legend of Frenchie King’, I noticed that when the wind gusted there was the potential for a great picture. When the time came, I only had one frame left – one shot at it. But suddenly the wind swept her hair across her face, and it was a knock-out.” Dean Martin, Las Vegas, 1971 “Dean was a perfectionist, compulsively self-disciplined and obsessively organised, as you can see from the meticulously neat layout of his dressing room. I captured this side of the star by hiding behind a curtain and watching him prepare back stage before a performance.” Muhammad Ali, Dublin, 1972“Ali was battling depression and trying to psyche himself up for a fight with Alvin Lewis in Dublin. His mother was flown in to help motivate him - he was fiercely loyal to her and worked hard to make her proud.” Frank Sinatra, London, 1989“Frank Sinatra was the greatest. He was an exceptional man, painstakingly practiced. He really worked on his singing – he wasn’t that casual character that comes on stage, he worked hard to make it look easy. You had to be the best to work with him, he didn’t suffer fools gladly. It was an honour that he allowed me so close over three decades.”

The Beatles Backyard, London, 1963As one of his first assignments Terry photographed a new, upcoming band…The Beatles at Abbey Road recording studios! This shot was the first time a pop group appeared on the front page of a British national newspaper. And the newspaper sold out. The Rolling Stones, London, 1963The Rolling Stones are pictured here during rehearsals for ABC television’s ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars.’ “At the time, we didn’t think it would last – we’d all joke about what jobs we would have to get when it was all over – Mick was going to open a hair salon, someone else would end up in a bank – I remember us all joking ‘imagine Mick still singing when he’s 60!’” Raquel Welch, Los Angeles, 1970“My images of Raquel Welch are some of my most controversial. In this role as a transvestite in Gore Vidal’s ‘Myra Breckenridge,’ Raquel was never shy to push boundaries. She saw this film as the first role she’d been offered where she could really show her acting talents but between the studio and the director it was a disaster.” Raquel Welch on the Cross, Los Angeles, 1970“I wanted to symbolise the dilemma facing Welch as the female sex symbol of the decade - ‘crucified’ for her sexuality by the movie industry and the wider public who did not take her seriously as an actress. It was deemed too controversial for use at the time, and wasn’t published until 30 years later on the cover of The Sunday Times Magazine.” Sean Connery in the Bath, Las Vegas, 1971Sean Connery poses as James Bond taking a bath on the set of ‘You Only Live Twice,’ complete with Vodka Martini. Sean Connery, Las Vegas, 1971Sean Connery is pictured on the set of ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ in Las Vegas, his image reflected in the Ford Mustang Bond car featured in the film. Muhammad Ali, Dublin, 1972 “Ali was the one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. In his heyday he was like a young lion who’s crowned himself king of the jungle, and that’s what the ring is - a jungle. He was fearlessly focused when training, but he was a complex character, talking his head off one minute, and sullen the next!” David Bowie, Diamond Dogs, London, 1974 Taken as a publicity shoot for Diamond Dogs, Terry started to shoot with the dog sitting quietly besides Bowie. But suddenly the Great Dane got over excited and reared six feet into the air barking madly. This terrified the life out of everyone in the studio, except Bowie who didn’t even flinch.

Kate Moss, London, 1993 “Another girl, like Naomi Campbell, who couldn’t look bad on camera if she went six weeks without sleep. Certain models like Kate just seem to hypnotise the lens. She can simply put on a blank face and nail the shot. She’s that rare type of woman, like Raquel Welch, who is supremely confident in front of a camera.” Michael Caine and Bob Hoskins, London, 1985“Michael Caine was an old friend so I popped down to shoot him in Soho with Bob Hoskins. Bob was the star of the movie, but Michael ended up as the star of the picture. With double portraits, that’s what happens sometimes.”

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Index

Introduction

Frank Sinatra on the Boardwalk, Miami, 1968Brigitte Bardot, Spain, 1971Audrey Hepburn, St Tropez, 1967Ursula Andress, London, 1967Frank Sinatra, Miami, 1968Brigitte Bardot with Cigar, Spain, 1971Dean Martin, Las Vegas, 1971Muhammad Ali, Dublin, 1972Frank Sinatra London, 1989The Beatles, Backyard, London, 1963The Rolling Stones, London, 1963Raquel Welch, Los Angeles, 1970Raquel Welch on the Cross, Los Angeles, 1970Sean Connery in the Bath, Las Vegas, 1971Sean Connery, Las Vegas, 1971Muhammad Ali, Dublin, 1972David Bowie, Diamond Dogs, London, 1974Kate Moss, London, 1993Michael Caine and Bob Hoskins, London, 1985

Captions

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16, 1718, 1920, 21

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24, 252627282930

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5-7 Dover St. London W1S 4LD30 Cork St. London W1S 3NG T +44 (0)20 7287 7750F +44 (0)20 7287 [email protected]

Terry O'Neill: Infamous

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