Title: Elvis Presley at New York Hilton Hotel, b&w

Photographer: Ron Galella

Photograph on Canvas.

Bronx-born photographer Ron Galella’s name is essentially synonymous with celebrity paparazzi culture. Harper’s Bazaar once named him ‘arguably the most controversial paparazzo of all time’, and many consider him to be a pioneer in his industry. He has amassed the world’s largest, single-source photographic archive dedicated to popular culture.

Galella is also known for his various run-ins with celebrities over the years, with Jackie Onassis placing a restraining order on him, Marlon Brando breaking his jaw, and Elvis Presley’s bodyguards slashing his tires. However, Galella is still revered within the art world, with Andy Warhol praising his work for its artistic and socio-historical value. Having taken over three million shots of public figures in his life, Galella has subsequently been featured in hundreds of notable publications such as Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and Vogue. His work has also been displayed in prestigious museums and galleries such as the MOMA in New York City, the MOMA in San Francisco, and the Tate Modern in London.

References:

1. Cowles, C., (2014). Ron Galella: Unseen Photographs From the World’s Most Infamous Paparazzo. Harper’s Bazaar. Retrieved from: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/g3535/ron-galella-unseen-photographs/.

2. https://rongalella.com/