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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Richard Avedon People

American photographer Richard Avedon produced portrait photographs that defined the twentieth century. Developed in partnership with the Richard Avedon Foundation in New York, the first Australian exhibition of Avedon’s bold portraits reveals the glamour and drama of his iconic artistic work.

More information on Richard Avedon People

Selected images

14 images
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Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon
Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon
Marian Anderson, contralto, New York, June 30, 1955 by Richard Avedon
Marian Anderson, contralto, New York, June 30, 1955 by Richard Avedon
New York Life #11, Central Park, New York City, November 17, 1949 by Richard Avedon
New York Life #11, Central Park, New York City, November 17, 1949 by Richard Avedon
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, New York, May 8, 1957 by Richard Avedon
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, New York, May 8, 1957 by Richard Avedon
Chet Baker, singer, New York City, January 16, 1986 by Richard Avedon
Chet Baker, singer, New York City, January 16, 1986 by Richard Avedon
Boyd Fortin, thirteen-year-old, Sweetwater, Texas, March 10, 1979 by Richard Avedon
Boyd Fortin, thirteen-year-old, Sweetwater, Texas, March 10, 1979 by Richard Avedon
Allen Ginsberg's family: Hannah (Honey) Litzby, aunt: Leo Litzby, uncle; Abe Ginsberg, uncle; Ann Ginsberg, aunt; Louis Ginsber, father; Eugeno Brooks, brother; Allen Ginsberg, poet; Anne Brooks, niece; Peter Brooks, nephew; Connie Brooks, sister-in-law; by Richard Avedon
Allen Ginsberg's family: Hannah (Honey) Litzby, aunt: Leo Litzby, uncle; Abe Ginsberg, uncle; Ann Ginsberg, aunt; Louis Ginsber, father; Eugeno Brooks, brother; Allen Ginsberg, poet; Anne Brooks, niece; Peter Brooks, nephew; Connie Brooks, sister-in-law; by Richard Avedon
Peter Orlovsky and Allen Ginsberg, poets, New York City by Richard Avedon
Peter Orlovsky and Allen Ginsberg, poets, New York City by Richard Avedon
Abbie Hoffman, member of The Chicago Seven, Chicago by Richard Avedon
Abbie Hoffman, member of The Chicago Seven, Chicago by Richard Avedon
New York Life #5, Lower West Side, New York City, September 9, 1949 by Richard Avedon
New York Life #5, Lower West Side, New York City, September 9, 1949 by Richard Avedon
Elizabeth Taylor, cock feathers by Anello of Emme, New York studio, July 1964 by Richard Avedon
Elizabeth Taylor, cock feathers by Anello of Emme, New York studio, July 1964 by Richard Avedon
Twiggy, dress by Roberto Rojas, New York studio by Richard Avedon
Twiggy, dress by Roberto Rojas, New York studio by Richard Avedon
Andy Warhol, with Jay Johnson and Candy Darling, New York, August 20, 1969 by Richard Avedon
Andy Warhol, with Jay Johnson and Candy Darling, New York, August 20, 1969 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
14 images
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Related information

Richard Avedon

Learning resource archive

A companion to our 2013 exhibition Richard Avedon People. This resource ties in with the Australian Curriculum and is designed primarily for upper secondary school teachers of Visual Arts, English, History and Theory of Knowledge.
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Shop Talk

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2016

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon

The Avedon effect

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2013

Dr Christopher Chapman explores how we can understand Richard Avedon's photographs.  
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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