Before his untimely death in 2002, Herb Ritts was perhaps one of Hollywood’s most esteemed and respected fashion and celebrity photographers. His legacy is currently being honored by both a retrospective featuring seldom seen prints at the Fahey Klein Gallery on Los Angeles, and an anthology “Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour” written by his dear friend and art director Charles Churchward and published by Rizzoli.

The seldom seen photographs on view at the Fahey Klein Gallery are a photographic record of Ritts’ time and place. Providing information beyond the glamour of his subjects, his portraits were also images of an era. From the sculptural lighting to the extraordinary settings, few managed to capture these iconic figures, from Madonna to Richard Gere, with his edge.

In addition to his work as a celebrity portrait photographer, Ritts also captured the faces of the Masai warriors of Mali and Olympic athletes, and was an acclaimed director of music videos. Author Charles Churchward, the art signature behind such prestigious publications as Vogue and Vanity Fair, spent five years interviewing family, friends, business associates, curators, staff and celebrities including Anna Wintour, Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Elton John. The resulting anthology provides a birds eye look into the sexy world of a life lived in the center of Hollywood royalty.

Gallery Director David Fahey summed up Herb Ritts as “…charismatic, disarming, insightful and confident – a creative collaborator with an exceptionally discerning eye. He had the ability to look at the same things as everyone else, and see something different.”

The exhibition at the Fahey Klein Gallery in Los Angeles will run through December 4.
Herb Ritts : The Golden Hour. By Charles Churchward. Published by Rizzoli, New York.

Book Release: Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour, A photographer’s Life and His World

Until december 4 2010
Fahey/Klein Gallery
148 North La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tél. 323.934.2250

http://www.faheykleingallery.com