The Fahey/Klein Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of Herb Ritts photography. This exhibition contains some of his remarkable portraits, male & female nudes, as well as fashion photographs produced during Ritts’ twenty-five year career in photography.
The Herb Ritts Archive has been stored in a vault since his untimely passing in 2002. All of the photographs on view are original prints made during his lifetime. Many of the photographs in the exhibition have seldom, if ever, been seen by the public. A limited number of prints exist of each image, and in some instances, only one print is available for sale. This exhibition represents an overview of Ritts’ influential and expansive output in the world of photography.
Herb Ritts left us a photographic record of his time and place, a portrait of our era. He not only created idealized portraits that radiate glamour, he also gave us a truthful interpretation beyond the surface of the sitter. He loved photographing notorious personalities – individuals with an edge. Herb didn’t just take pictures of Madonna and Richard Gere, he took the picture of Madonna and Gere. He was a master of capturing iconic figures within their pop culture moment. In fashion photography, he made the models “super.” The sand, sea, shadows, and sky were his backdrops. A perfect sculpted light, elegant strength and an enduring beauty are characteristics of his graphic nudes.
During Ritts’ lifetime he made provisions in his will to create The Herb Ritts Foundation with two charitable mandates. The first, and primary, objective is to continue his commitment to fight HIV/AIDS by providing support to organizations that offer assistance and care for individuals affected by this epidemic. The Foundation also advocates continued awareness of HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on everyone. The second objective is to support Herb’s great passion for photography by offering assistance to museums and institutions with educational programs that further advance the appreciation and study of photography. The Foundation will continue to support Herb Ritts’ legacy with exhibitions and publications of his work.
This exhibition coincides with the release of “Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour, A Photographer’s Life and His World” (Rizzoli). This publication, written by Ritts’ friend and colleague Charles Churchward, is an “intimate look at Herb Ritts’ life and legacy in words and photographs.”
The Herb Ritts Foundation continues Herb Ritts’ longstanding efforts in support of HIV/ AIDS organizations, research, and charities through funding and donations.
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