PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUGLAS KIRKLAND

September 22, 2008



New York , NY -- Westwood Gallery in SoHo , New York is pleased to present a premiere exhibition with never before seen photographs of Coco Chanel by photographer Douglas Kirkland. The exhibition of 40 photographs represents a documentation of intimate and public moments of a woman who transformed 20 th century fashion.

In 1962, at the age of 27, Kirkland received an assignment from Look Magazine to photograph Chanel for a story on the legendary fashion icon. For a period of three weeks, Kirkland shadowed Mademoiselle Chanel capturing her intense schedule and daily routine with models, fitters, clients and friends. In order to gain her trust and approval, Chanel instructed Kirkland to initially photograph models wearing her collection and submit the prints for her review. Chanel was so taken with the young man and his photographic skill; she allowed him access to her private rooms, surveying her everyday movements. In addition to fashion images, Kirkland and Chanel took a day trip to Versailles resulting in surreal photographs of the ‘grande dame’ appropriately set in the royal gardens. Coco Chanel revolutionized women’s fashion with creations and style, including the ‘little black dress’, Chanel’s signature cardigan jacket, women’s casual wear, quilted handbags, short hairstyles, mixing real and costume jewelry, as well as Chanel No. 5, the world’s best selling perfume.

Today, at 74 years old, Kirkland remembers with great fondness and admiration the days spent with Coco Chanel. His photographs provide a personal view of this extraordinary individual, the most influential fashion designer of the 20 th century.

In 1958 Douglas Kirkland apprenticed to photographer Irving Penn and thereafter was hired by Look Magazine as a photojournalist. Numerous books have been published on Kirkland ’s photographs, including Light Years, Icons, Legends, Body Stories, Woza Africa, James Cameron’s Titanic, Freeze Frame and An Evening with Marilyn. Kirkland ’s fine art photographs have been exhibited in Europe, Asia and the United States . He is the recipient of the 2003 Lucie Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Photography’, as well as receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Motion Picture Society of Operating Cameramen. In addition, he was named ‘Photographer of the Year’ by PhotoImaging, Manufacturing and Distributor’s Association (PMDA) in 2002. In January 2008, five decades of Kirkland ’s photographs were on exhibit at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to coincide with the 80 th Academy Awards. His work is in the collection of George Eastman House and many other institutions and museums . . ...

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