Fernando Natalici

'Moonrise Over Metropolis' vintage New York City photograph

1995

'Lady vanishes in Manhattan' Abstract black and white Manhattan street photography from by Fernando Natalici. A woman walks into the Manhattan night. H...

Fernando Natalici - Blurry Reality, 1992 - Shot in Midtown Manhattan, pre-uber period as people waited for a rainstorm, cars drove by, the usual, no taxis one pedestrian wearing a lo...

Vik Muniz Memory Rendering of John John (Vik Muniz The Best of Life): 'John John' is a selection from Vik Muniz's The Best of LIFE series from 1989. Muniz's...

In 1978, photographer Fernando Natalici, the creative mind behind the graphic design for iconic venues like CBGB and the Mudd Club, spent twenty-four hours shooting the raw scenery of Times Square and 42nd Street. "Natalici's shots candidly recall a Times Square of flashing marquee lights, electric sexual energy and wild lawlessness. His photographs resuscitate a New York of yesteryear in all of its chiaroscuro, with it all of the dark tenets of urban life that are today masked beneath a glossy veil of uniformity." (Jessica Dailey, Curbed NY, July 29th 2014) Archival Inkjet Print 13 x 19 inches. Hand signed & titled in ink on the verso from a limited edition of 15. Excellent condition. Obtained directly from artist. Lot 180...

SoHo Fire Escapes, New York, 1984 by Fernando Natalici: The simplicity & grace of iconic New York architecture rendered timeless by the snap of the camera. A window into a street photographer's decisive moment. A window into, not only the New York of 'then', but the hidden poetry of urban architecture... Archival Inkjet Print. Approximately 12 x 18 inches (image size: approx 12 x 17in.). Hand signed from an edition of 20. Obtained directly from artist. Excellent condition. New York based photographer Fernando Natalici is best known for his iconographic documentation of the downtown Manhattan art scene of the mid/late 70's and early 80's. Natalici’s portfolio includes sought after images of a young Patti Smith, Blondie, Talking Heads, Keith Haring, The Ramones and more. As an Art Director, Fernando has played a key role in creating memorable visuals for historic NY venues such as CBGB's, The Mudd Club, Area and Danceteria. Soho Building Architecture, A Brief History The SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District comprises about 500 buildings, many of which are characterized by their cast-iron facades. Development of the district began in the late 18th century. The population surged after the War of 1812, and some homes from this era still remain. The latter half of the 19th century saw the district evolve into a center of commerce and entertainment, and the majority of the cast-iron buildings the district is known for were constructed during this period. The use of cast-iron allowed for ornate facades that were a much cheaper alternative to granite and marble. However, an increase of industrial production along with rising crime and “immorality” steadily drove residents out of the area. The district began to decline in the early 20th century, leaving many spaces vacant for decades and leading some to refer to the area as Hell’s Hundred Acres. 

It was not until the late 1960s that artists became attracted to the area because the large, unoccupied loft spaces made affordable studios. Many of those who moved into the area lived in their workspaces, even though it was illegal to do so, and the area was not sufficiently equipped for residential life, lacking basic necessities. At the same time, the entire landscape of SoHo was threatened by plans to build the Lower Manhattan Expressway (LOMEX) - a proposed ten-lane elevated highway that would require the demolition of much of SoHo and Little Italy. Artists in the area collaborated with other preservation advocates in the first, unsuccessful attempt to designate SoHo as a historic district for its architectural significance. Although that failed, they also formed Artists Against the Expressway and ultimately helped defeat the plans for LOMEX, which saved the architecture in the area. The “SoHo Effect” has become a model for repurposing an industrial district for mixed use, both commercial and residential, while preserving much of the existing structural integrity. Today SoHo is known for its unique cast-iron architecture, desirable loft living...

"The higher you build your barriers the taller I become" The Berlin Wall, 1989 by legendary photo journalist, Leni Sinclair - a Kresge Foundation Eminent Artist (see The Guardian UK, Jan. 28, 2016) & legendary documenterian of 60's counter-cultural America. Archival inkjet print. Dimensions: 11 x 14 inches including borders. Hand signed, titled & dated in ink on the lower margins. Acquired directly from artist. Lot 180...

This one-of-a-kind alt process landscape (photogram) was actually just made during my recent artist residency, which concluded in September; I was 4 unique silver gelatin prints into...

Untitled (1107-44, Nyc), Original Black and White Photograph of NYC, 2014 Artist Commentary: This is the first print in an edition of five. Approxi...

Untitled (0828-22A, Nyc), Original Black and White Photograph of NYC, 2014 Artist Commentary: This is the first print in an edition of five. Approxi...

Artist Commentary: Yet another puddle in the city; I could have easily passed by. However, this time I saw some light inside the puddle. Although it is quite a minimal shot of asphalt, water, tree and light...

Artist Commentary: This is the second print in an edition of three. Approximate image size is 12"W x 8"H. Keywords: City, urban, NYC, photograph, black and white, buildings, foggy, ...

Artist Commentary: This is the second print in an edition of five. Approximate image size is 12"W x 8"H. Keywords: Nature, trees, branches, photograph, black and white, NYC, New Yor...