Paul McCartney photography exhibition announced in New York
A major new exhibition of Paul McCartney’s photography in New York, celebrating The Beatles singer’s artistic eye.
In 1963, each member of The Beatles was given a Pentax camera. As Beatlemania set in and the boys were constantly chased by paparazzi, their team hoped giving them their own lenses might help them feel a sense of control as they could turn the tables back on the photographers.
That move has led to a vast archive of rarely-seen photographs shot by McCartney during The Beatles’ biggest years. Now gathered together, the series of images has been titled Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm.
The exhibition is a fascinating and insightful look into an often mythologised period in the band’s storied history. As they were getting bigger and bigger, and the noise surrounding them getting louder, they were hitting a level of fame the world had never seen before. In some images, McCartney captures that as he shows the view of the crowds gathered outside their private jets or the people chasing after their cars in the street.
However, elsewhere, the exhibition is an intimate and personal project. Featuring family-like portraits of the band on their days off or on holidays with their wives or girlfriends at the time, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the group in their early days.
The decision to show these photographs came off the back of an exhibition of his late wife’s photos, displayed in much the same way. “[McCartney] was having a conversation about Linda McCartney’s collection in an exhibition of her work with his photo curator, Sarah Brown,” Catering Futter, the curator at Brooklyn Museum recalled.
“He mentioned that he thought he had taken photographs in late 1963 or 1964, during the rise of Beatlemania,” Futter explained. “When he wondered whether they still existed, Sarah said ‘Yes, the contact sheets are in the archives.’”
The photographs have previously been shown at London’s National Portrait Gallery. Now, they’re moving Stateside with a major show at the Brooklyn Museum. From now until August 18th, it’s a must-see for Beatles fans.
