ARTIST IN FOCUS: STEVE SCHAPIRO
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.
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.”
Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, and Other Activists March on Washington, 1963
Gelatin silver print
Martin Luther King Jr. (with Flag), Selma March, 1965
Gelatin silver print
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.
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.”
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.
The Godfather, The Whisper, 1971
Archival pigment print
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.
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.”
Muhammad Ali, Muscles, Louisivill, KY, 1963
Gelatin silver print
Muhammad Ali Biking with Kids, Louisivill, KY, 1963
Gelatin silver print
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.”
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”.
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.
Bill Evans at Piano, Riverside Records Recording Session, New York, 1961
Gelatin silver print
Barbara Streisand, Pearl Earring, Los Angeles, 1967
Gelatin silver print
Day 8: Looking into another selection of great portraits by Steve Schapiro.
Robert Rauschenberg Happenings, New York, 1962
Gelatin silver print
Robert Redford and Lauren Hutton, Sonoma, California, 1970
Gelatin silver print
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.
Warhol & The Velvet Underground Through Window, LA, 1966
Gelatin silver print
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.”
