Through his lens, Melvin Sokolsky built a world of surreal mystery. His most iconic series, depicting a woman in a plexiglass bubble, remains one of the most recognizable works of fine art photography today.
Born in New York City in 1933, he had no formal photography training. Instead, he learned by experimenting with his father’s box camera and analyzing photographs his father had developed.
At 21, he joined the staff at Harper's Bazaar. Soon after, Sokolsky landed projects for many other notable magazines, including Esquire and McCall’s. He went on to teach at the School of Visual Arts.
In 1969, Sokolsky became a television commercial director. He won several Clio Awards, as well as numerous other major commercial awards. Many of his commercials are in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collections. Sokolsky developed a computerized zoom lens, which he presented at the Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1972; he went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for the technology.
Across his career, Sokolsky photographed or directed a number of celebrities, including American actors Ben Affleck and Dustin Hoffman, as well as American singing and acting legend Barbara Streisand.
Sokolsky received an abundance of recognition for his work, including being named an Explorer of Light by the Canon camera company in 1995. He received the first annual Lucie Award for outstanding achievement in fashion photography in 2003, and the Louvre in Paris held a celebration for his work that same year.
Sokolsky exhibited at many world-class galleries, including at Staley-Wise in New York in 1997, Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles 2008 and Galerie Acte 2 in Paris in 2010 and 2011.
Towards the end of his life, Sokolsky worked for Canon, lecturing internationally and serving as one of its global company ambassadors. He died in 2022. His body of work spanning several decades is in numerous prestigious collections, including the Getty in Los Angeles and Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
On 1stDibs, enter the wondrous world of Melvin Sokolsky’s photography.
Flower Girl Faces - Paris Harper's Bazaar 1963 - Model Simone D'Aillencourt
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in PARIS, FR
Handmade signed on the back of the print by Melvin Sokolsky and numbered : 12 on 25 . Melvin Sokolsky was born and raised in New York in 1933, where he began his career as a still-l...
Archival Paper, Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Mirror Dance, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on label of authenticity
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Over New York, 1963
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on label of authenticity
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Tooker Lips, New York, 1965
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the verso
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Lip Streaks (Donna Mitchell), New York
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer.
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Look Down, Bazaar
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Paper 30 x 39 1/4 inches; Image 27 1/2 x 35 1/2 inches Edition 4 of 7 Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil on print verso The American photographer, Melvin Sokolsky, began...
Platinum
Price Upon Request
Think On Air, Paris, 1965 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography)
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in London, GB
Think On Air, Paris, 1965 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography) Signed On Reverse Archival Pigment Print Printed on 16 X 20 inch paper From an Edition of 25 Melvin Sokolsk...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
In Trees, Paris, 1963 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography)
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in London, GB
In Trees, Paris, 1963 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography) Signed On Reverse Archival Pigment Print Printed on 30 X 30 inch paper From an Edition of 25 Melvin Sokolsky (born 1933) is celebrated as an important pioneer of illusory fashion photography. He has worked for Vogue and The New York Times, as well as Harper’s Bazaar, for which he produced the iconic Bubble series...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Bouquet Seine, Paris, 1963 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography)
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in London, GB
Bouquet Seine, Paris, 1963 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography) Signed On Reverse Archival Pigment Print Printed on 20 X 16 inch paper From an Edition of 25 Melvin Sokolsky (born 1933) is celebrated as an important pioneer of illusory fashion photography. He has worked for Vogue and The New York Times, as well as Harper’s Bazaar, for which he produced the iconic Bubble series...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Bar du Baguette, Paris, 1963 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography)
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in London, GB
Bar du Baguette, Paris, 1963 - Melvin Sokolsky (Black and White Photography) Signed On Reverse Archival Pigment Print Printed on 20 X 16 inch paper Melvin Sokolsky (born 1933) is celebrated as an important pioneer of illusory fashion photography. He has worked for Vogue and The New York Times, as well as Harper’s Bazaar, for which he produced the iconic Bubble series...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Green Angel, New York
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Availability is subject to change without notice. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bar du Flick, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
After Delvaux, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Ali du Taxi, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bar du Baguette, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bar du Taxi, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bicycle Street, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bird Cage Intrigue, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bird Cage Laugh, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bird Cage Pout, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bouquet Seine, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Delvaux Puzzled, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Delvaux Street, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Delvaux Chase, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Delvaux Empty Street, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Dragon's Breath, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Du Taxi, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Faces in Window, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Flower Girl Faces, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Free Bubble Parking, New York
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bubble Guitar, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
In Trees, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Le Dragon, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Lumiere Street, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Memory Lane, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
On the Seine, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Over New York
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Over New York
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Pont Alexandre III at Night, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Rolling, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
On the Roof, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
School Yard Sky Watch, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
School Room, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
School Yard Tree, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Bubble Guitar Serenade, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Serenade Breath, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Saint Germain, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Time Stop Street, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
With Chair, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Dior Wings, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Elephant Dance, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Fly Elephants, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Fly Dior, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Fly High, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Fly Unis, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Happarition, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
All editions signed by the photographer. Please inquire for information about additional sizes.
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Jump, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Mirror Dance, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Sidekick, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.
Price Upon Request
Walk on Air, Paris
By Melvin Sokolsky
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver or Archival Pigment Print. All editions signed by the photographer.