Richard Avedon - A Lifetime of Fashion Photography

by Jen Paulousky of Blue Alvarez Designs

Last weekend my partner and I were in Florida at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. Jonathan, my partner, had been down there for business a few months earlier and was so blown away by the Richard Avedon show they had on exhibit that he insisted we return to see it. Okay, he also wanted me to meet his mom, but hey! Great photography is a great excuse for a visit.

Richard Avedon was best known for his work from around 1940 through the 1960s. His use of motion, context, and lines all created a unmistakable look which has made is photography iconic. And even though his mid-20th Century black and white work is best known, the show included much of his work through the 1970s until the early 21st Century, all of which remained consistent in his dedication to making his subjects seem extraordinarily alive.

Known best for his fashion photography, he also had a wide portfolio of work on other, diverse subjects. Regardless of the reason for the photo or the subject matter, his work carried an intensity that absolutely blew me away and made it so clear why he is a household name.

We were told that the exhibition that was at the Norton is now coming to Boston! It will be at the MFA starting in August. Check out the exhibit details page for more information.

And right now, to whet your appetite for the MFA show, the Peabody Essex Museum has a collection of portraits he did for the Kennedy family when they were in the White House, on view through July 18th.

If you love photography, fashion, drama, or all of the above, definitely check out one or both of these shows. As I discovered recently, Avedon's work is not to be missed.