CAMERA WORK Virtual Gallery presents the exhibition En Plein Air with approximately 30 black and white works by Arthur Elgort \starting July 30, 2024. The internationally renowned artist has changed the genre of fashion photography since the early 1970s with his »open-air photography.« The exhibition shows in particular unknown portraits of fashion icons from the late 1980s to the present day and pays tribute to Elgort’s significant contributions to aesthetics and technology in fashion photography. The majority of the works will be shown in an exhibition for the first time.
“I have always favored my subjects to be spontaneous and in spontaneous situations. And obviously, real life, ‘en plein air,’ presents a much larger pallet to work in. So itching to get outside and into the fresh air was always an ever present urge for me.” – Arthur Elgort
Arthur Elgort’s career began in the early 1970s when he established himself as a photographer for Mademoiselle and Vogue magazines, among others. During this time, he also became the preferred photographer of the choreographer and co-founder of the New York City Ballet, George Balanchine. The fine art of depicting movement in photography paved Elgort’s way as a visual pioneer in the fashion world. Like his studies in painting, it was the basis for his later unmistakable »En Plein Air« style. A term that comes from painting and means »in the open air«, it characterizes Elgort’s approach to photographing his models in natural, living environments rather than in the traditionally controlled studio settings. Elgort’s »En Plein Air« photographs are known for their lightness and spontaneity. The artist stages fashion where it happens, in moving everyday situations. This lends his photographs a special dynamism and authenticity. The technique not only connects fashion with reality, it also emphasizes the personality of the models and the atmosphere of the moment. Elgort has made a significant contribution to expanding fashion photography and establishing a style that allows more freedom and expression. His ability to create a true and dynamic ambience through the use of natural light sources and unposed poses unmistakably defines his photographic work and makes him one of the most influential fashion photographers of his time. His work has been published in the world’s leading magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, and Harper’s Bazaar Italia and has inspired many photographers to follow. The exhibition includes portraits of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Alek Wek, and Tatjana Patitz.
Arthur Elgort was born in New York City in 1940. As a teenager, he attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School and went on to study painting at Hunter College. There he soon realized that he wanted to express himself artistically in more diverse ways, and this was followed by an exploration of photography. This led to the discovery of talent and passion for the artistic medium, and shortly afterwards, in 1971, Arthur Elgort made his debut as a photographer for Mademoiselle magazine and went on to work for Vogue worldwide. At the beginning of the 1970s, Arthur Elgort brought a breath of fresh air into the previously rigid studio world of fashion shoots. In the spirit of the Impressionists, the former painting student encouraged the models to act freely and created a snapshot aesthetic with them out in the »real world« that went beyond the current norm at the time. In doing so, he created a lasting place for himself in the world of fashion photography and has had a significant influence on it throughout his 50-year career. His works are part of important international collections and are exhibited in museums worldwide.
The exhibition can be visited at any time of the day exclusively in the gallery’s virtual rooms: https://camerawork.de/en/virtualgallery/
CAMERA WORK Gallery
Kantstrasse 149
10623 Berlin · Germany
Tuesday to Saturday · 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
www.camerawork.de/en
