Sunday, April 30, 2017

Harry Benson


HARRY BENSON – Person of interest
at Galerie Got Montréal
April 28 - May 28, 2017

Galerie Got Montréal presenting the first Quebec exhibition of the internationally renowned Scottish photographer Harry Benson CBE. The “Person of interest” exhibition and sale features more than fifty of the best-known photographs of the artist whose impressive career spans over 60 years.


Among other photographs, visitors will have an opportunity to view a selection of shots of The Beatles taken during their Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New York City and Miami tours between 1964 and 1966.


To highlight Benson’s first exhibition in Montréal, Galerie Got Montréal will also showcase a photograph of French President Charles de Gaulle, taken during the memorable speech he delivered from the balcony of Montréal’s City Hall, where he cried “Vive le Québec libre!”


Harry Benson

Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1929, Harry Benson has photographed the best-known public personalities and biggest icons from the political, musical and fashion worlds, always encouraging spontaneity: twelve American presidents, from Eisenhower to Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Winston Churchill, Mohamed Ali (Cassius Clay at the time), The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Andy Warhol, James Brown, Sophia Lauren, Dolly Parton, Kate Moss, Jack Nicholson, Amy Winehouse, to name a few. He covered race riots in the United States in the 60s, Vietnam War protests, as well as the assassinations of Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King and John Lennon. He infiltrated the ranks of the KKK in South Carolina, socialized with the IRA, etc.

Harry Benson has spent the last five decades capturing iconic images of world leaders, presidents, celebrities, and crucial historical moments.  As a photojournalist from London, Benson truly launched his career while traveling on assignment with the Beatles to cover their first tour in America.  The Scottish born photographer began his career at the Hamilton Advertiser before moving to Fleet Street where he worked for London’s Daily Sketch and the Daily Express. Upon his arrival with the Beatles in 1964, Benson decided to stay in America where he would go on to work for publishing greats such as Life Magazine, People Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Architectural Digest.

Under contract with LIFE Magazine for 30 years, Harry Benson’s photographs have been featured in leading magazines, such as Time, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, Vogue Paris, Paris Match, Forbes, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, People, and the London Sunday Times Magazine.

Harry Benson published sixteen books, took part in a number of exhibitions and was presented with the most prestigious of prizes for his work. In 2009, Benson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for service to photography. He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from both St. Andrews University and Glasgow University, Scotland, and is an Honorary Fellow of London's Royal Photographic Society. He has twice been named NPPA Magazine Photographer of the Year. On April 24, 2017, Benson will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Center of Photography in New York City.


Galerie Got Montréal

Located in Old Montréal and opened since February 2016, Galerie Got is a contemporary art gallery that represents numerous internationally-renowned artists (painters, sculptors, photographers). In May of 2016, the gallery presented the first Canadian exhibition of award-winning photographer Steve McCurry and the first Canadian exhibition of French sculptor Quentin Garel in March 2017. The gallery is dedicated to showcasing excellence, the discovery of emerging and well-established artists, and accessibility for all.

Galerie Got Montréal
50 Saint-Paul Street West, Old Montréal
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
www.galeriegotmontreal.com

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