Portraits of an Artist
Albert Watson's First NYC Solo Show
Acclaimed fashion photographer Albert Watson is staring at his portrait of Mike Tyson – an explosively blown-up image of the boxer’s sweaty, beefed-up back.
“He’s very sweet,” says Watson, without a hint of humor. “He was 18 years old, and had only been professional a year or so when the picture was taken.”
The portrait is just one of “A Few Portraits,” an exhibit of 13 powerful prints by Watson -- eight-by-six feet in size -- as well as a wall of never-before-seen Polaroids. The show opens today at 401 Projects in New York. Regardless of the fact that the 64-year-old Edinburgh-born lensman shot over 250 Vogue covers and hundreds of commercial campaigns (Chanel, Levi’s, and Revlon included), he’s never had a solo show in New York – until now.
Watson’s work is immediately recognizable for its technical prowess and emotional pull. “If his name is not familiar,” stated the Sunday Times of London recently, “his photographs will be: Alfred Hitchcock holding a dead goose by the neck, a naked Kate Moss looking like a mermaid, Uma Thurman brandishing a sword in the poster for Kill Bill.” While none of these images are actually on view, some of Watson’s other iconic masterpieces are – Mick Jagger disguised as a leopard, Christy Turlington as a smoking gun. Selected from the 300 originally on view at The Museum of Modern Art in Milan (“It was easy to choose,” shrugs Watson), the 13 images in “A Few Portraits” span 26 years. “They’re still fresh in my mind,” he says.
Underwritten by DKNY Jeans, this is the second exhibit for 401 Projects, photographer Mark Seliger’s pet project that relies on sponsorship rather than sales. “The idea is to inspire people to show their work, people who don’t have an opportunity to show it and talk about it,” explains Seliger. “When the criterion is not dependent on sales, what you have is a dialogue.”
In the case of 401 Projects, you also have social conscience: The first show last month, Seliger’s ”In My Stairwell," benefited the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Future plans for the gallery include partnering with charity organizations, classes for underprivileged kids, and a lecture series. 
“It’s a place where people can look at the work and not be rushed,” says Seliger. “It’s a photographers’ sanctuary.”
-Sara Costello
See It:
A Few Portraits” by Albert Watson, on view May 24th – June 17th, 2006. 401 West Street, btwn Charles and West 10th; (212) 633-6202; 401projects.com
Join Albert Watson on Thursday June 8th, 7pm at 401 Projects, as he discusses the work of this exhibit.
For more from Watson check out Albert Watson: The Vienna Album, $47.25,and Cyclops, $11.96, available at amazon.com
