The National Arts Club in New York presents Harry Benson : Life and Art until June 26, 2026. Today, Monday June 15, Harry Benson will be on stage at the Soho Photo Gallery for a Q & A with Chris Whipple & surprise guests!
At 97, legendary photojournalist Harry Benson holds what is believed to be the single largest photographic archive of any photographer in history. Over more than seven decades, Benson captured history, building an extraordinary visual record of the world’s most iconic figures and transformative events. Benson has photographed thirteen U.S. presidents and such icons as Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Martin Luther King Jr., Andy Warhol, The Rolling Stones, and Michael Jackson. His documentation of the Beatles’ first U.S. trip resulted in some of the most enduring and iconic images of one of the 20th century’s most influential bands. In 2009, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Benson a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his profound impact on photography.
Harry and his wife Gigi surprised several hundred friends and colleagues on opening day with never-before-shown photographs from Harry’s archives alongside his well know icons.
Their daughter Tessa flew in from Los Angeles, joining the dynamic chair of the National Arts Club Fine Arts Committee Hillary Welson who hosted the exciting evening. National Arts Club Executive Director Concetta Bencivenga and the tireless curator of Harry’s exhibition Robert Yahner welcomed the guests and gave a festive champagne toast to Harry and his amazing career. Harry’s self-effacing reply made everyone laugh and enjoy the evening even more.
At the opening photographers Neil Leifer, Maddy Miller, Lynn Goldsmith, Jonathan Delano, Bob Gruen, Christophe von Holenberg, Mary Hilliard, Sari Goodfriend, and Neil Tandy saluted Harry’s 70-year career along with friends and colleagues including Vanity Fair’s David Friend and Amy Fine Collins; Aperture President Cathy Kaplan, Assouline’s Teddy Bensimon and Kristen Chilstrom, Historian/Archivist Beth Iskander, Producer Kenneth Teaton, Architecture Digest’s Mayer Rus, LIFE’s Russell Burrows ( son of LIFE photographer Larry Burrows), Palmer’s Wynn Burson Cateron, NYTimes.com Alexandria Belloc, Avenue Magazine’s Peter Davis, Designer/Art Director Walter Bernard, Author Bina Barnard, Yale Professor Nelson Donegan, Quest’s Tykischa Jacobs, Allegra’s Patricia Canole, Playwright Pamela Grayson, DJ/Composer Samantha Ronson, and Tony winning designer William Ivey Long, Duggal’s Zee Morin, Tiffany’s Pierce Sullivan, and Gallery 53’s Ali & Deniz Cetinkaya.
Harry Benson : Life and Art
On view through June 26, 2026
National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Pk S.
New York, NY 10003
www.nacnyc.org
Today, Monday June 15, Harry Benson will be on stage for a Q & A with Chris Whipple & surprise guests!
At 7:00 PM sharp.
Soho Photo Gallery
539 West 23rd Street (bet.10th &11th Ave.)
New York, NY 10011
www.sohophoto.com
