‘The Best’ is a revolving exhibition celebrating the re-opening of UK galleries and the near 40-year history of Hamiltons Gallery’s representation of some of the most illustrious photographers in modern history. Visitors will have a chance to see the exhibition evolve over its duration and can expect to see ‘The Best’ of what photography has to offer from Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Mario Testino and more.
After a particularly tough year for everyone and months in lockdown, we have sincerely missed visiting galleries, perusing museum exhibitions and travelling to art fairs around the world. ‘The Best’ is a celebration of the freedom we so cherish to experience art again in its many manifestations.
‘The Best’ will present iconic images by some of the mediums most influential artists. The exhibition will encompass works by important 20th Century practitioners, to exceptional Post-War, fashion and contemporary images. The photographs will feature rare, museum quality prints, as well as new or iconic pictures we believe to be outstanding examples of work by some of our represented photographers with some guest appearances by artists the gallery admires.
The exhibition is also a tribute to the gallery’s history of propelling photography to the forefront of the art market. At the time of the gallery’s founding in 1977, the photography market as we know it today was only just starting and the superstars of the medium had only just begun to sell their pictures. Icons of the industry like Helmut Newton or Richard Avedon could scarcely have imagined they would have pictures in the world’s most important museum and private collections or that their pictures would achieve seven figure price records.
Hamiltons was one of a handful of institutions who strove to shine light on the importance of the medium both in modern history and as a genre of art collecting. The gallery still works to shed critical light on these photographers’ work – as they were created and as they evolve over time.
‘The Best’ will focus on excellence in the medium; both for the pleasure of the viewers we have so missed walking through our doors as well as for collectors who are seeking new and significant additions to their collections.
