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ARTIST IN FOCUS: STEVE SCHAPIRO

  • 17 Mar — 26 Mar 22

We were incredibly saddened to hear of Steve’s passing this January, and over the next week we will pay tribute to his amazing career. Born in 1934 in New York, throughout the decades of Steve Schapiro photographed numerous key moments of US history, in addition to culture and icons of our time – from the Civil Rights movement to Andy Warhol, to the filming of Taxi Driver and The Godfather.

STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

Freedom Now, Canton, Ohio, 1964
C-type print

Day 1: Schapiro’s most powerful photographs documenting the Civil Rights movement in America from 1963 to 1967 are probably his best-known works. Schapiro remembered: “When The New Yorker published ‘The Fire Next Time’, an essay by Baldwin on the state of black people in America, I asked Life Magazine if I could do a long photo-essay with him. He and they agreed, and I started travelling with Jimmy wherever he would go. Travelling with him in 1963 opened my eyes to what was happening in the South with regard to Civil Rights and the non-violent ‘We Shall Overcome’ church spirit… The church driven movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr., knew that non-violence was the only way to prevail. But it would take time.”

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

James Baldwin, Do You Love Me, 1963
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Jerome Smith at Church, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

The Worst Is Yet to Come, New York, 1968
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, and Other Activists March on Washington, 1963
Gelatin silver print

Day 2: Many of Schapiro’s Civil Rights photographs are of Martin Luther King Jr. in churches, on marches, and giving speeches. In June 20202, more than 50 years later, we had asked Steve to comment on the Black Lives Matter movement and situation currently happening in the US. “I have travelled to many Black Lives Matter protest rallies against gun violence and the killings of unarmed black people by police. The enormous outpouring of young people protesting the killing of George Floyd – despite the virus, the tear gas and the rubber bullets – brings hope that a new generation can overcome race, religion and politics to work together towards dealing with our neglected problems, and bring Dr. Kings’ ‘I Have a Dream’ home at last.”

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

“Vote,” Selma March, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Stop Police Killings, Selma, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Martin Luther King Jr. (with Flag), Selma March, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

Boy With the Flag on Ground, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

René Magritte at MOMA, 1965
Gelatin silver print

Day 3: In 1965 Schapiro went to the MoMA in New York to photograph René Magritte (one of Schapiro’s favourite artists). During the shoot Magritte started interacting with one of his works, standing directly in front of it, and making it appear like he was part of his work. This portrait of Magritte is so significant because he resembles so much of the figures featured in many of his paintings, especially the ones with the trademark hat.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Andy Warhol, Silver Cloud Pillow, Castelli Gallery, New York, 1965
Gelatin silver print

Day 3: Schapiro photographed Andy Warhol in New York and Los Angeles from 1963 to 1966, when he was initially gathering material for a LIFE story, that in the end never ran. “In public Andy hid behind a posed, emotionless mask, which allowed him to watch everything happening around him. In photographs, he generally struck impressive poses.”

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Warhol and Sedgwick Entourage, NYC, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

Bowie Lazarus (book cover), 1976
Archival pigment print

Day 3: In 1974, Schapiro was invited to spend a day with David Bowie and photograph him. During the photo session, Bowie changed into a number of different costumes, which he had spontaneously invented on the spot. “That day it seemed Bowie was trying out all kinds of characters, costumes, and ideas to see which would work best for future projects.” During the shoot, Bowie created one of his most recognisable costumes. Borrowing a shirt and a pair of trousers from one of Schapiro’s assistants, he painted them with white stripes all over, even on his toes.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Bowie (Blue), New Mexico, 1975
Archival pigment print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

The Godfather, The Whisper, 1971
Archival pigment print

Day 4: In the 1972 Schapiro was hired as the set photographer for The Godfather. The results are some of the most iconic portraits of American cinema featuring actors such as Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. Schapiro describes the set of the Godfather as “filled with humour, with many practical jokes. The Coppola family worked like the Corleone family, and everyone melded together.” As the set photographer Schapiro needed to work just like a fly on the wall. When he photographed the opening sequence in Don Corleone’s office it meant working with a blimp (a metal box, sponge-foamed inside to muffle the camera’s clicks).

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

The Godfather, Homage, The Kiss, 1971
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Brando and the Cat, 1971
Archival pigment print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO

STEVE SCHAPIRO

Jodie Crossing Street, NY, 1975
Archival pigment print

Day 4: During the summer of 1975, Schapiro was the set photographer for the film ‘Taxi Driver’. Having this access, Schapiro recorded every moment of the film, both on set and behind the scenes. His camera captured some of the most defining moments as well as the film’s most intense and violent sequences. Through his photographs we get to explore every angle of this cinematographic masterpiece.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

De Niro, Graffiti, NY, 1975
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Muhammad Ali, Monopoly, Louisivill, KY, 1963
Gelatin silver print

Day 5: Schapiro photographed Muhammad Ali for Sports Illustrated in 1963 when he was still Cassius Clay. He spent a few days with him at his parent’s house in Louisville, Kentucky, when Ali was only 21 and he had just won the Golden Gloves with 15 knockouts. During those few days, Schapiro and Ali played Monopoly, “I was losing – but not losing absolutely everything. He kept on loaning me money so that he would eventually own everything on the board. With this photo I loved his expression and knew that I’d captured something special. We had a great time together.”

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Muhammad Ali, Muscles, Louisivill, KY, 1963
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Muhammad Ali Biking with Kids, Louisivill, KY, 1963
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Robert Kennedy at Berkeley, California, 1966
Gelatin silver print

Day 6: Schapiro photographed Robert Kennedy on multiple occasions. The first time was at the Democratic National Convention in 1964 then during his presidential campaign in 1966 and even during one Christmas in 1967. “When I photographed him for the presidential campaign, Bobby picked halls and auditoriums that were too small, the crowds overloaded the capacity of the space, and in order to cover a speech, I had to walk right behind Bill Barry, his bodyguard, as he pushed his way into the auditorium, otherwise I would never make it inside the venue.”

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Robert Kennedy Campaign, California, 1966
Gelatin silver print

Day 6: Schapiro remembered, “his commitment to making the world a better place shone through his eyes. There is no doubt in my mind that the country would have changed for the better if Bobby had become President. Politically, Bobby had three qualities necessary for leadership – intelligence, a strong sense of compassion and the ability to play politics. But his charisma was the most valuable gift”.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Samuel Beckett Looking at Film, 1964
Gelatin silver print

Day 7: Throughout his career, Schapiro photographed many actors, celebrities, musicians, politicians and more. Here is a selection of some of his greatest portraits.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Nico in Times Square, New York, 1965
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Jacqueline Kennedy, Washington D.C., 1963
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Claes Oldenberg, New York, 1962
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Bill Evans at Piano, Riverside Records Recording Session, New York, 1961
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Barbara Streisand, Pearl Earring, Los Angeles, 1967
Gelatin silver print

Day 8: Looking into another selection of great portraits by Steve Schapiro.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Simon and Garfunkel, NYC, 1967
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Robert Rauschenberg Happenings, New York, 1962
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Ike and Tina Turner, Los Angeles, 1974
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Frank Sinatra (Benefit for MLK), 1963
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Robert Redford and Lauren Hutton, Sonoma, California, 1970
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Andy, Nico, Velvet (vertical), 1966
Gelatin silver print

Day 9: In 1966, while doing a story on Andy Warhol for LIFE magazine, Schapiro had the chance to include and photograph Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. A selection of these images were taken in a dilapidated Hollywood Hills castle; where they were staying, waiting to get paid for the Exploding Plastic inevitable gig that they had just played. Later Schapiro also photographed the Velvet Underground at Scepter Studios in New York where they recorded with Nico for their first album.

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Warhol & The Velvet Underground Through Window, LA, 1966
Gelatin silver print

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

The Velvet Underground and Nico in Studio, 1966
Gelatin silver print

Day 9: Schapiro: “I think that photography and music have a powerful connection, they are both very emotional and they both energise people… they combine entertainment and statements of the world.”

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STEVE SCHAPIRO
STEVE SCHAPIRO

Lou Reed and Nico, 1966
Gelatin silver print

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