New York, NY --
Westwood Gallery in SoHo,
New York is pleased to
present a premiere
exhibition with never before
seen photographs of Coco
Chanel by photographer
Douglas Kirkland. The
exhibition of 40 photographs
represents a documentation
of intimate and public
moments of a woman who
transformed 20th
century fashion.
In 1962, at the age of 27,
Kirkland received an
assignment from Look
Magazine to photograph
Chanel for a story on the
legendary fashion icon. For
a period of three weeks,
Kirkland shadowed
Mademoiselle Chanel
capturing her intense
schedule and daily routine
with models, fitters,
clients and friends. In
order to gain her trust and
approval, Chanel instructed
Kirkland to initially
photograph models wearing
her collection and submit
the prints for her review.
Chanel was so taken with the
young man and his
photographic skill; she
allowed him access to her
private rooms, surveying her
everyday movements. In
addition to fashion images,
Kirkland and Chanel took a
day trip to Versailles
resulting in surreal
photographs of the ‘grande
dame’ appropriately set in
the royal gardens. Coco
Chanel revolutionized
women’s fashion with
creations and style,
including the ‘little black
dress’, Chanel’s signature
cardigan jacket, women’s
casual wear, quilted
handbags, short hairstyles,
mixing real and costume
jewelry, as well as Chanel
No. 5, the world’s best
selling perfume.
Today, at 74 years old,
Kirkland remembers with
great fondness and
admiration the days spent
with Coco Chanel. His
photographs provide a
personal view of this
extraordinary individual,
the most influential fashion
designer of the 20th
century.
In 1958 Douglas Kirkland
apprenticed to photographer
Irving Penn and thereafter
was hired by Look Magazine
as a photojournalist.
Numerous books have been
published on Kirkland’s
photographs, including
Light Years, Icons, Legends,
Body Stories, Woza Africa,
James Cameron’s Titanic,
Freeze Frame and An
Evening with Marilyn.
Kirkland’s fine art
photographs have been
exhibited in Europe, Asia
and the United States. He is
the recipient of the 2003
Lucie Award for ‘Outstanding
Achievement in Entertainment
Photography’, as well as
receiving the Lifetime
Achievement Award from the
American Motion Picture
Society of Operating
Cameramen. In addition, he
was named ‘Photographer of
the Year’ by PhotoImaging,
Manufacturing and
Distributor’s Association (PMDA)
in 2002. In January 2008,
five decades of Kirkland’s
photographs were on exhibit
at the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences to
coincide with the 80th
Academy Awards. His work is
in the collection of George
Eastman House and many other
institutions and museums.
WESTWOOD GALLERY
568 Broadway New
York, NY 10012
●
Tel: 212-925-5700
Fax: 212-925-3449
info@westwoodgallery.com
●
www.westwoodgallery.com
Gallery Hours: Tue –
Sat, 11 - 6