VANITY FAIR’S TINSELTOWN
A Fabulous Exhibit and Virtual Look at Hollywood
In a dazzling collaboration, The Anneberg Space of Photography has coupled with Vanity Fair to present the dynamic exhibition Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling – The Stars, the Parties, and the Powerbrokers. Over 100 iconic images have been expertly amassed from the last four decades of Vanity Fair’s vast collection. With powerhouse photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, Ellen von Unwerth, Firooz Zahedi, and Mark Seliger, the results are nothing short of extraordinary.
PROVOKR spoke with photographer Firooz Zahedi, who has been a longstanding contributor to Vanity Fair. Touching on his photographic prose and the elements that set the exhibition considerably apart from others, he said, “The exhibition covers a wide range of images from dramatic to comedic to glamorous. The magazine’s reputation rested on its ability to choose photographers who could cater to its sophisticated caliber.”
A believer in quintessential devotion to the subject of the photograph, he attests to portraying the model in their best possible light, commenting, “I try to make them look more than their best. My belief is that we are dealing with fantasies in this business so [I] don’t hold back, but do it in a grand style.”
Each celebrity photographed for Vanity Fair has essentially rocked the course of popular culture and ultimately become a legend in their own regard. Figures that grace the walls of the exhibition include Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Janet Jackson, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Jack Nicholson, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey, and many others.
When speaking with PROVOKR, Susan White, Vanity Fair’s former director of photography and co-curator of the exhibition, impressed upon the power of the work, stating, “It’s as if the viewer is walking through the pages of a special, anthology issue of Vanity Fair. There are some very well-known images here, but also some surprises — photographs that might have been forgotten or even overlooked, depending on how they were published in the magazine. In fact, it’s quite a different experience viewing all of these photographs printed and exhibited rather than on paper pages or digital screens.”
In our current climate of social distancing, the exhibition has strived to take extra measures in providing content to viewers. A special audio tour is available on the gallery’s website with dialogue from co-curator and Vanity Fair’s editor of creative development, David Friend. Additionally, there are photo challenges available through Instagram, and an in-depth archive of the magazine’s covers, dating back to the first publications in the 1910s.
The exhibition first opened its doors in the midst of Oscar weekend in February. Although it is temporarily closed due to current events, the space hopes to open its doors before the exhibition’s close on July 26, 2020. You can view the exhibition information here.
