Lillian Bassman
Barbara Mullen, Blowing Kiss, circa 1950-1959

Lillian Bassman
Barbara Mullen, Eiffel Tower, circa 1950-1959

Lillian Bassman
Barbara Mullen, Essex House, circa 1950-1959

Lillian Bassman
Barbara Mullen, Flat Hat, Bare Back, circa 1950-1959 

Peter Fetterman Gallery is pleased to present the exhibition Elegance by renowned photographer Lillian Bassman. This exhibition runs from September 20th, 2008 to January 1st, 2009 with a gallery opening on Saturday, September 20th, from 5 to 8 pm.

Lillian Bassman (Brooklyn, New York, USA, born 1917) is one of the great 20th century fashion photographers along with her contemporaries, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. She began her career as a fashion illustrator rather than a photographer, but in 1945, she was appointed Art Director at Junior Bazaar. Later, in 1947 after just a few months of photographing, she began to shoot full time at Harper’s Bazaar. Her work appeared in these two magazines throughout the 1940’s and 50’s and along with her editorial images, she shot commercial work for such accounts as Chanel, Dior, Revlon and John Galliano.

Lillian Bassman received the Agfa Life Time Achievement Award and the Dem Art Directors Club Award in 1996. During the same year, Bassman was asked to photograph the Haute Couture collection for New York Times Magazine, and the Autumn Collection for Neiman Marcus, as well as work for German Vogue. She has exhibited her work worldwide and at 91 years old, Bassman continues to live and work in New York City.

Peter Fetterman had the great privilege of researching her archive and discovered many unique “gems”. Ms. Bassman agreed to print these newly discovered and never before seen images for the first time for this very special exhibition.

Sep 20 - Jan 1, 2009. Peter Fetterman Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave., Bergamot Station, A-7 Santa Monica, California 90404 USA - www.peterfetterman.com

Lillian Bassman
Harper's Bazaar, Fleshe D'or Lunch

Lillian Bassman
Jean Shrimpton, circa 1960-1969

Lillian Bassman
Night Bloom, Ball Gown by Haute Couture Givenchy by John Galliano. Anneliese Seubert, Paris. The New York Times Magazine, March 31, 1996, 1996