A golden-era industry insider, Phil Stern’s access to the greatest legends of the time allowed him to create indelible portraits of some of the most celebrated icons of the 20th century including James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne.
With that access Phil Stern presents a body of work that encapsulates both the humorous and candid sides of his photography. Oddball! is an exhibition of photographs that lets the viewer in on many moments that happened on the set and the studio lots that you didn’t get to see.
His ability to get the most reserved of stars to let him capture them in relaxed and candid moments of there lives was uncanny. How did he get James Dean to do his own impression of “comedy / tragedy” [the actors mask], why did Frank Sinatra want Phil to shoot him in a recreation of the crucifixion with him as the subject and John Wayne let Phil take a picture of him in shorts and sandals? These Hollywood legends trusted Phil and the images in this show are a testament to that trust.
Oddball
Until July 16
Phil Stern Gallery
601 S. Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles
CA 90014
