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.
Bailey. 80s. 1–100, Yves Saint Laurent 1981. Signed, Limited Book & Print
By David Bailey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Edition (No. 1–100) with the signed print Yves Saint Laurent, 1981 and the book Eighties in a clamshell box, also signed by David Bailey. Inkjet print on Hahnemuhle pearl paper, ...
Inkjet
$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
Cecil Beaton and Rudolf Nureyev c1965 For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Cecil Beaton & Rudolf Nureyev c1965 Art Sz: 14"H x 12"W Frame Sz: 19 1/2"H x 17 1/2"W w/ bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green
Photographic Paper
Rudolf Nureyev 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
The legendary dancer c1965 Art Sz: 14" x 12" Frame Sz: 19 1/2" x 17 1/2" in bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green
Photographic Paper
'Jimmy Woolf' 1965 from David Bailey's 'Box of Pin-Ups'
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Producer of 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Room at the Top' who was one of the most successful impresarios in the British film industries Art Sz: 14" x 12" Fram...
Photographic Paper
$1,200
'Michael Cooper' 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's 'Box of Pin-Ups'
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Michael Cooper, photographer, doesn't so much dress as dress up. And his two-year-old son wears exactly the same clothes. Art Sz: 14" x 12" Frame Sz: 19 1/2" x 17 1/2" In bespoke...
Photographic Paper
$1,200
'James Wedge: The Mysterious Milliner' 1965 For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups'
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
James "Jimmy" Wedge (born 1939) is a British fashion designer, milliner and fashion photographer "He's a hopeless businessman, and though he should have made a lot of money, one som...
Photographic Paper
$1,800
Brian Morris 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print by David Bailey for His Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Manager of the Ad Lib made it for a time the most successful nightclub in the world! Art Sz: 14"H x 12"W Frame Sz: 19 1/2"H x 17 1/2"W in bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green ...
Photographic Paper
P. J. Proby 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
P. J. Proby, Hollywood actor who starred in the movie 'Greatest Story Never Told' & in 1964 appeared in the Brian Epstein's TV spectacular, 'Meet the Bea...
Photographic Paper
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
$11,600
H 22 in W 48 in
Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) Oliver with Helmet, Signed Lambda Print, 2002
By Julian Opie
Located in Aventura, FL
Lambda print in colors, on Fuji color photographic paper dry-mounted to PVC (as issued). Hand signed and numbered in black marker on the reverse. Edition of 25/50. Published by Ala...
PVC, Photographic Paper, Lambda
$5,500
H 47 in W 38 in D 1 in
"Chuck Close Study for 3D painting" 47x38" one of a kind archival pigment print
By Ceravolo
Located in Southampton, NY
This art is a one of a kind print on canvas with archival ink, it is completely flat but has the characteristics of Ceravolo's 3 dimensional look. It was the study for a large canvas of Chuck Close that was comprised of actual three dimensional elements. This unique one of a kind print has the depth that a Ceravolo canvas in known for while being completely flat. It is framed under plexiglass and measures 47x38" When Ceravolo met Chuck Close for the first time in 2008 he told Chuck that Chuck had indirectly feed his (Ceravolo's) family for the past 25 years because he (Ceravolo) started to paint large scale portraits after seeing Chucks portrait of Phillip Glass...
Archival Pigment, Canvas
$2,500
H 32 in W 24 in
Richard Corman - Jean-Michel Basquiat 1984 print, hand signed numbered by Corman
By Richard Corman
Located in New York, NY
Richard Corman Jean-Michel Basquiat 1984 (Red), 2020 Offset lithograph poster on color archival pigment paper Signed and numbered 2/100 by Richard Corman in silver sharpie on the fro...
Archival Paper, Lithograph, Offset
$4,400
H 30 in W 40 in D 0.01 in
Jake Chessum 'Amy Winehouse Camden Town Launderett' Signed Limited Edition Print
By Jake Chessum
Located in London, GB
Kate Moss Amy Winehouse Camden Town Launderette III by Jake Chessum ‘In a now closed launderette on Camden Parkway. This was at the end of the day as it was getting dark. We didn’t ...
C Print, Color
Frank Sinatra "Selfie" on the Stairs - Estate Stamped
By Frank Sinatra
Located in Chicago, IL
“Selfie” on the stairs of a young Frank Sinatra. Self Portrait circa late 1930s. Likely taken on the stairs at Sinatra’s parents in Hoboken, NJ. Giclee 300gsm smooth archival rag pa...
Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée
$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 Paper, Archival Pigment
Plain Jane by BATIK Super Oversize Signed Limited Edition
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Plain Jane By BATIK Archival pigment pop art print of pop culture, fashion icon British born Jane Birkin, who famously emigrated to France and formed the iconic French It Couple wit...
Archival Pigment
$202
H 15.75 in W 20.48 in D 1.38 in
Bandstand III, Eastbourne, UK - Black and White Vintage Photography
By Samuel Field
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Bandstand', captured on a visit to his grandparents at the British seaside in Eastbourne, this collection by Samuel Field is a beautiful reminder of days gone by. This artwork is a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Silver Gelatin
$1,200
H 33 in W 24 in D 0.2 in
"David Bowie Heathen" Framed Original Vintage Poster Print
By Markus Klinko
Located in London, GB
"David Bowie Heathen" by Markus Klinko David Bowie Heathens album cover, 2002, framed in an orange wood frame with anti glare Perspex. (photo by Markus Klinko) Heathen (stylised as uǝɥʇɐǝɥ) is the 23rd studio album by English musician David Bowie. It was originally released in Europe on 10 June 2002, and the following day in America. After departing EMI/Virgin, it was his first release through his newly-formed ISO Records label, in conjunction with Columbia Records. It reunited Bowie with producer Tony Visconti, marking the two's first full-album collaboration since 1980's Scary Monsters. Recording mostly took place at New York studios from August 2001 to January 2002 and featured overdubs from several guest musicians, including Dave Grohl and Pete Townshend. Two tracks, including "Afraid" and "Slip Away" evolved from Bowie's shelved Toy album, while three were covers by Pixies, Neil Young and the Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Framed Orange Framed Size: 33" x 24" (Inches) Image Size: 28" x 19'' (inches) Vintage C Type Poster...
Color
Ohh Baby ! - Oversize Signed limited edition - Pop Art - Kate Moss
By BATIK
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 30 x 20" inches / 76 x 51 cm...
Color, Archival Pigment
Neo Classical by BATIK Oversize Signed Limited Edition
By BATIK
Located in London, GB
Neo Classical by BATIK Pop artwork featuring Neo from the Matrix films stopping an onslaught of assorted colourful pills. signed & limited edition. BATIK is an increasingly collec...
Archival Pigment
Sold
H 14 in W 12 in
Donald Grollman aka 'The Bongo Wolf' 1965 For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
David Bailey b&w photo of Donald Grollman aka Bongo Wolf c1965 Art Sz: 14"H x 12"W Frame Sz: 19 1/2"H x 17 1/2"W In bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green Bongo Wolf was a le...
Photographic Paper
Sold
H 14 in W 12 in
Vidal Scissors Sassoon 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's Box Pin Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Vidal Sassoon, CBE (1928-2012). British hairdresser to the stars! 1965 Art Sz: 14" x 12" Frame Sz: 19.5" x 17.5" in bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing...
Photographic Paper