In the week of Photo London 2023, Phillips unveils its latest offering: SPOTLIGHT: A Private London Collection. A remarkable, exclusive curation of iconic photographs presented in a dedicated session of the London Photographs auction on 19th May.
SPOTLIGHT features celebrated works by some of the most renowned photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Robert Mapplethorpe, Helmut Newton, and Mario Testino, among others. The impressive selection will go on view in the ground floor gallery at 30 Berkeley Square from 12th May until the auction on 19th May.
We are thrilled to present SPOTLIGHT, an exceptional selection of works from a private London collection that sheds light on the people and events that have left an indelible mark on contemporary pop culture. This collection features icons of fashion, film, music, and art, as well as generation-defining moments. Moreover, by showcasing the expressive power of the photography medium, this selection offers collectors a unique chance to acquire timeless, instantly recognisable photographs that have defined popular culture from the 1950s to the present day.
Yuka Yamaji, Head of Photographs, Europe, and Rachel Peart, Head of Department, London,
The live auction on 19th May will present the first offering of SPOTLIGHT, capturing significant moments in history that have had a profound impact on contemporary culture. Among the highlights are six prints, signed not only by the artists but also by the famous sitters, such as Robert Mapplethorpe’s Deborah Harry, and Elton John, Brigitte Bardot, Raquel Welch, and Faye Dunaway, all captured by Terry O’Neill. A few of the masterworks leading the sale include Richard Avedon’s Dovima with Elephants, Evening Dress by Dior, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris, August, 1955, Irving Penn’s Dior Fur Scarf (Jean Patchett), New York, 1950-51, and Helmut Newton’s Sie Kommen Naked, Paris, 1981.
Further highlights include Michael Halsband’s 1985 portrait of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as Brian Duffy’s famed David Bowie which was produced as the cover for the album Aladdin Sane, 1973. This live session of SPOTLIGHT would not be complete without David Bailey’s Catherine Deneuve, Flamingo, Mario Testino’s 1996 portrait of Kate Moss, and Ellen von Unwerth’s images of Claudia Schiffer and Rihanna. Each work offers a glimpse into the creative minds of some of the most celebrated photographers of our time.
This 19th May offering will be followed by a continuation of the collection across Phillips’ departments, including a dedicated online Photographs auction in July, and Phillips’ live New Now, Editions, and 20th Century & Contemporary auctions later this year.
SPOTLIGHT, 19th May 2023, Auction viewing: 12th May – 19th May, Phillips, 30 Berkeley Square, W1J 6EX phillips.com/auction/
