At 15, the London-born David Bailey was jazz mad and Picasso loving but, being a dyslexic cockney, was booted out of school. Escape from gritty East London seemed unlikely until he picked up a Rolleiflex during his stint in the National Service. Three years later, in 1960, he was under contract at British Vogue.
Prodigiously talented, Bailey was also wildly charismatic and uncommonly pretty, a high-octane amalgam that no doubt fueled his meteoric rise. Soon, he was chronicling, and surfing, the cultural tsunami that transformed London in the Swinging Sixties, when young creatives from music, fashion, advertising, theater, film, TV and journalism toppled the British establishment to become the new royalty.
This was the moment when the seeds of celebrity culture were sown. Bailey snapped all these revolutionary aristos: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine, Tom Stoppard and David Hockney. Each and every one looks impossibly dewy and fresh and brims with an entirely modern derring-do.
So, too, do “the beautiful birds,” as Bailey called the alluring models and actresses who defined that decade: the exquisite Jean “Shrimp” Shrimpton, Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau, Catherine Deneuve. A number of them became his lovers, Deneuve his wife (he’s had four), for a time.
It was a wild ride for an East End lad and literally the stuff of movies. Bailey was the inspiration for the prowling fashion photographer Thomas, played by pretty boy David Hemmings, in one of the iconic films of that era, Antonioni’s Blowup.
But despite his playboy persona and lucrative work in fashion advertising, Bailey has always possessed real psychological depth and artistic ambition. He can snap like few others. His closest peer in spontaneity, insight and cool was Richard Avedon. Both preferred a white backdrop, strong lighting and a tight focus to capture that rare telling moment.
Someone shot with eyes shut is not an accident with Bailey but a revelation. To this day, he can’t explain how he works his magic, although he does liken it to shamanic conjuring. He makes no secret that he spends most of his time gabbing with his subject — he’s curious about everyone. Sometimes, the chatter is a seduction; occasionally, it becomes good-naturedly pugilistic. And then, in mere moments, the individual is sized and seized by his camera.
Browse David Bailey's revolutionary portraiture and fashion photography on 1stDibs.
$3,000
Bailey. 80s. 101–200, Jerry Hall & J. Henri Lartigue 1983. Signed book & Print
By David Bailey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Edition (No. 101–200) with the signed print Jerry Hall and Jacques Henri Lartigue, Nice, France, 1983 and the book Eighties in a clamshell box, also signed by David Bailey. Inkje...
Inkjet
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Rolling Stones [Avebury Hill]
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Rolling Stones [Avebury Hill], 1968 Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 50.8 x 74.92 cm Sheet: 58.4 x 82.53 cm Edition of 10
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Mick Jagger Goats Head Soup Album Art Version
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Mick Jagger Goats Head Soup Album Art Version, 1973 Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 101 x 148 cm Sheet: 111 x 158 cm Edition of 10 + 2 AP
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
$26,932
Dr Dre
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Dr Dre, 2001 Archival Inkjet on paper Image: 50.8 x 63.58 cm Sheet: 58.4 x 71.2 cm Edition of 10
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Rolling Stones Colour Out of Our Heads
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Rolling Stones Colour Out of Our Heads, 1968 Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 50.8 x 50.8 cm Sheet: 58...
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
David Bowie
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 50.8 x 50.8 cm Sheet: 58.4 x 58.4 cm Framed: 66.5 x 66.5 x 4 cm Edition of 10
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Blondie Blue by BATIK signed limited edition Oversize POP ART
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Blondie Blue by BATIK signed limited edition POP ART print Paper Size OVERSIZE 24 x 20" inches / 51 x 41 cm Signed & numbered by artist on front Archival Pigment print Limited to ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Ohh Baby ! - Oversize Signed limited edition - Pop Art - Kate Moss
Located in London, GB
Ohh Baby ! - Oversize Signed limited edition - Pop Art - Kate Moss by the London based contemporary pop art image creator and artist, BATIK. Measures 60 x 40" inches / 152 x 101 ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Army of Me II - Hand Signed Limited Edition Print
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Army Of Me II - Hand Signed Limited Edition This piece is a modern reworking of the world famous shot of boxer Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston, aft...
Color, Archival Pigment
Blondie Orange - Hand Signed Limited Edition
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Blondie Orange - Hand Signed Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print This piece is a modern reworking of Debbie Harry, from Blondie. BATÍK is a London based contemporary pop art i...
Color, Archival Pigment
$1,325
H 40 in W 30 in
Army Of Me II - Oversize signed limited edition - Pop Art - Muhammad Ali
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Army Of Me II - Oversize limited edition - Pop Art - Muhammad Ali by the London based contemporary pop art image creator and artist, BATIK. Measures 40 x 30" inches / 101 x 76 cm ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Blondie Blue by BATIK signed limited edition Oversize POP ART
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Blondie Blue by BATIK signed limited edition POP ART print Paper Size OVERSIZE 40 x 30" inches / 101 x 76 cm Signed & numbered by artist on front Archival Pigment print Limited to 15 only Featuring pop art artwork of the iconic Debbie Harry from pop punk band Blondie circa 1979 Note other sizes and framing options available BATIK is a London based contemporary pop artist Sex symbol glamour music artist heart of glass...
Color, Archival Pigment
Kansas Bowling
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Kansas Bowling' - 2018 Edition of 10, 20x30cm, printed on Velvet Watercolor, 310gsm, Bright White, Acid Free, Signature label and Certificate. About Tao Ruspoli (born 7 Novembe...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
Cherry Kate - Oversize limited edition - Kate Moss Pop Art
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Cherry Kate - Oversize limited edition - Kate Moss Beautiful archival pigment print of the supermodel and fashion icon by the London based contemporary pop art image creator and ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Darth Elvis - Hand Signed Limited Edition
Located in London, GB
Darth Elvis - Hand Signed Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print This piece is a fun and modern reworking of actor and singer Elvis Presley, dressed as...
Color, Archival Pigment
$800
H 20 in W 16 in
"Consumed", Archival Pigment Print on Cotton Rag, Signed, Edition of 10
By Andrew Pinkham
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This archival illustrative photography pigment print on cotton rag by Andrew Pinkham measures 20in x 16in and is signed and numbered. This piece is part of a small edition of 10. ...
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper
Cherry Kate - Hand Signed Limited Edition
Located in London, GB
Cherry Kate - Hand Signed Limited Edition - Pop Art - Kate Moss Archival Pigment Print This piece is a modern reworking of the supermodel Kate Moss. B...
Color, Archival Pigment
$4,750
H 19 in W 13 in
"No Title" Still Searching For The Title Two, Giclee Print, Color Photography
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Still Searching For The Title / No Title 2 / Photograph Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2022 Dimension: 19 x 13 External Dimension( with white border) Height:19.8 inch Width:13...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée