Ellen Graham - Capturing the Intimate World of Iconic Lives
Ellen Graham
For decades, Ellen Graham has been a luminary in portrait photography, making her mark with a distinct approach that brings out the nuanced, intimate aspects of her subjects. Spanning over sixty years, her photography has documented the spectrum of human emotion and experience in the lives of well-known personalities, capturing everything from the height of their celebrity to their most unguarded moments. Her talent lies in her unique ability to put her subjects at ease, allowing her photographs to exude warmth, wit, and closeness. This signature approach has distinguished her in her field and has had a significant impact on portrait photography as a whole.
Her photographs offer a more personal look at celebrities like Sharon Tate, Marissa Berenson, Cher, and David Bowie, creating a more intimate connection between her subjects and the viewer that goes beyond the usual celebrity-fan dynamic. Graham's influence in photography also comes through her work with leading U.S. publications like Harper’s Bazaar, People, W Magazine, Time, and Newsweek, which has been instrumental in her career and in bringing her distinctive perspective to a broader audience.
Her photography is not limited to the glamorous world of celebrities; Graham's street photography captures the everyday beauty and reality of life in cities across the world, including New York, Paris, Havana, and Beverly Hills. These images reflect her wide-ranging encounters and her skill in portraying both the magnificence and the simplicity of life.
Carrie Fisher, Beverly Hills, CA, 1974 © Ellen Graham
The Norton Museum of Art just opened "Ellen Graham: Unscripted," an exhibition running from March 2 to June 16, 2024, that delves into Graham's extensive career and her approach to photography. The exhibition displays a selection of Graham's work donated to the Norton in 2021, alongside pieces from the Ellen Graham Archive. It aims to give a thorough overview of her career, featuring her iconic photographs and related items, and will highlight her diverse experiences capturing both private and public moments.
“Ellen Graham: Unscripted" is a tribute to Graham's enduring influence in photography and her commitment to capturing life's spontaneous moments. Reflecting on her journey, Graham shared, "Photography changed my life. It was my love for photography that drove me to support the Norton in its mission to advance the appreciation of photography." Her dedication shines through in her efforts to make photography more accessible to the public, aligning with the museum's dedication to the art form.
David Bowie, Rehearsal, Los Angeles, CA, 1975 © Ellen Graham
This exhibition at the Norton Museum of Art honors Ellen Graham's lifelong dedication to exploring the depth of human experience through her photography, inviting attendees to discover the world through her eyes
Sharon Tate, Beverly Hills, CA, 1968 © Ellen Graham
Tearsheets by Nicolas Harris, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
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