© Erik Madigan Heck for Stockland Martel

This image was shot for Mary Katrantzou, a Greek fashion designer who currently lives and works in London. It is the fourth collaboration between young designer Mary Katrantzou and photographer Erik Madigan Heck takes the form of a black & white photo series and a short film inspired by Katrantzou’s autumn/winter 2013 collection. The title: “Cathedrals.”  Erik Madigan Heck is the 29th Annual Infinity Awards 2013 recipient of the Applied/Fashion/Advertising category. The Infinity Awards ceremony takes place this evening, May 1st, at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. Other winners include David Goldblatt for the Cornell Capa Lifetime Achievement, Kitra Cahana for Young Photographer and David Guttenfelder for Photojournalism.

“A Perfect Mum #4,” 2012  All Images © Miles Aldridge. Courtesy Steven Kasher Gallery.

“Miles Aldridge: I Only Want You to Love Me,” a retrospective of the internationally renowned British artist’s cinematic fashion-based work opens May 8th (through June 8, 2013) at Steven Kasher Gallery in New York City. The 20 large-scale color photographs in the exhibition present a satirical, darkly humorous view of women, fashion, and commodification today. Aldridge creates an entirely believable world just slightly beyond our own: hyper-sexualized, hyper-materialistic, and full of dread. Think Stepford Wives on acid.

This exhibition launches Aldridge’s two new books: “Miles Aldridge: I Only Want You to Love Me” (Rizzoli, 2013, introduction by Glenn O’Brien), and “Other Pictures” (Editions 7L/Steidl, 2013). Join Aldridge for a book signing at the opening reception on May 8th, from 6-8pm at the Steven Kasher Gallery. (more…)

“Night Bloom: Anneliese Seubert in Givenchy Haute Couture by John Galliano, Paris. The New York Times Magazine,” 1996. © Lillian Bassman, Courtesy Staley-Wise, New York.

Lillian Bassman was an American photographer and painter. The most notable qualities about Bassman’s photographic work are the high contrasts between light and dark, the graininess of the finished photos, and the geometric placement and camera angles of the subjects. Bassman was pioneering photographer in the world of fashion. She died in 2012 at the age of 94.

Staley-Wise Gallery is one of 75 galleries showcasing photography during the AIPAD Photography Show in New York City from April 4 – April 7.

“Zara #01,” 2008. A hotdog vendor looks at a woman next to a Zara billboard on 5th Avenue. All Images © Natan Dvir/Courtesy of Anastasia Photo

Israeli photographer Natan Dvir‘s first exhibition at Anastasia Photo is currently on view through May 19th. Dvir began this series, “Coming Soon,” in response to his surprise, as a foreigner, at the “numerous ads and billboards covering New York City in a kaleidoscopic commercial net.” By juxtaposing giant billboards against seemingly miniature humans in everyday street scenes, he explores our relationship with branded city centers and the commercial environment we live in.

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“Gisele Bündchen, New York,” 2007. © Mario Testino.
From the exhibition “In Your Face” by Mario Testino at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

It’s hard to believe that the influential fashion and celebrity photographer Mario Testino has never had an exhibition in the United States—until now. Two concurrent exhibits open on Sunday, October 21, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The larger of the two, “Mario Testino: In Your Face,” features 122 black-and-white and color images chosen by Testino, from the many commercial and editorial assignments he’s shot during his 30-year career. These stylishly provocative and supremely elegant photos bring a freshness to his subjects, who are often well-known singers, actors, models and athletes. The 223-page book Mario Testino: In Your Face accompanies the exhibit and includes all 122 photos from the show as well as text by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, among others.

The second exhibition is “Mario Testino: British Royal Portraits.” On view in this smaller show are the portraits Testino has made of various members of the British Royal family throughout the years, and includes the first showing in the U.S. of the engagement portrait for Prince William and Kate Middleton.

For further information, please visit www.mariotestino.com and www.mfa.org.

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