Reckless, uninhibited and brazen, photographer Peter Beard was, as The Washington Post put it, “as wild as the animals he photographed.” Beard produced some of the most beautiful images of wildlife ever captured on film.
Beard was born in 1938 in New York City. His great-grandfather was James J. Hill, founder of the Great Northern Railway. As a child, he spent his summers at his grandmother’s Tuxedo Park estate, where she gave him his first camera, a Voightländer. He used it to take pictures to accompany his diaries; Beard was a keen diarist throughout his life, amassing more than 100 volumes. At the age of 17, he took a life-changing trip to Africa with Quentin Keynes, Charles Darwin’s great-grandson, using his Voightländer to photograph wildlife.
After attending prestigious private schools such as Buckley and Pomfret, Beard entered Yale University in 1957 as a pre-med student. However, he soon turned his attention toward art, studying under architectural historian Vincent Scully, German artist Josef Albers and painter Richard Lindner. He graduated in 1961 with a degree in art history.
In the 1960s, Beard returned to Africa, where he met Out of Africa author Karen Blixen. Enamored by the continent’s natural beauty, he purchased Hog Ranch near Blixen’s coffee plantation in Kenya. While there, he received a special dispensation from President Uhuru Kenyatta to film, photograph and document the flora and wildlife at Tsavo National Park. This led to The End of the Game, published in 1965, which documented the demise of more than 35,000 starving elephants and 5,000 black rhinos.
Beard became renowned for his black-and-white and color photography, figurative photos and landscapes. He exhibited around the world, including at New York’s Blum Helman Gallery in 1975, the International Center of Photography in Manhattan in 1977, the Centre National de la Photographie in Paris in 1996 and Guild Hall in East Hampton in 2016.
Beard died in 2020 at the age of 82. His works remain in demand with collectors.
On 1stDibs, find original Peter Beard photography, mixed media work and prints.
Peter Beard - Elephant's Embryo, Uganda, Platinum Print- Unsigned
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Elephant's Embryo, Uganda Aributed to Peter Beard/Unsigned The original photograph "unsigned" but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game...
Platinum
Price Upon Request
I'll write whenever I can..., 1965
By Peter Beard
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Platinum
Tunnel View, Yosemite National Park California
Located in Carmel, CA
Platinum/Palladium (there was no pull down for this) Print Date 2025 Hand printed by artist Edition 1/15 Outer dimensions 16x20" Corner Mounted
Platinum
Emma in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, April 1984
By Jonathan Becker
Located in New York, NY
Emma in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 1984 Pão de Açucar, (Sugarloaf Mountain), Rio’s defining landmark looms in the background. Photographed by Jonathan Becker Contemporary 14" x 14.5...
Platinum
Tina Turner at hungry-i, San Francisco, 1967
By Baron Wolman
Located in Westwood, NJ
A very special Platinum Palladium artist proof (AP) print of Tina Turner performing at the Hungry-i in San Francisco on November 23rd 1967 which was to became the cover of Rolling S...
Platinum
$144,133
H 29.93 in W 43.78 in
Elephants Walking Through Grass, Amboseli – Nick Brandt, Elephants, Photography
By Nick Brandt
Located in Zurich, CH
NICK BRANDT (*1966, England) Elephants Walking Through Grass, Amboseli 2008 Platinum print Image 58.42 x 106.68 cm (23 x 42 in.) Sheet 76 x 111.2 cm (29 7/8 x 43 3/4 in.) Edition of ...
Platinum
$12,000
H 14 in W 14 in
Martha Graham with Madonna & Calvin Klein at New York City Center, October 1990
By Jonathan Becker
Located in New York, NY
Martha Graham at New York City Center after her final onstage bow - backstage with Madonna and Calvin Klein, October 1990 "Martha was my godmother, and she was posing." - JB Photog...
Platinum
Jean-Paul Goude & Toukie Smith in NYC Subway, 1976
By Jonathan Becker
Located in New York, NY
Jean-Paul Goude & Toukie Smith in NYC Subway, 1976 Photographed by Jonathan Becker Contemporary 14" x 14.5" Platinum/Palladium Print Edition Nº 1 of 6 Ce...
Platinum
Tree Frog
By David Johndrow
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, titled, dated, and print type in pencil on print verso by David Johndrow Platinum palladium print Paper size: 15 x 12 in., Image size: 10 x 10 in. While integr...
Platinum
$12,000
H 14 in W 14 in
Julian Schnabel at his Outdoor Studio, Montauk, New York, 13 August 2001
By Jonathan Becker
Located in New York, NY
Julian Schnabel at his Outdoor Studio, Montauk, New York, 13 August 2001 Schnabel's magnificent open-air studio benefits fully from the special light of Long Island's East End as oi...
Platinum
$900
H 17 in W 21 in D 0.25 in
"Nottingham Loom", Contemporary, Platinum, Palladium, Black and White Photograph
By Vicki McKenna
Located in Franklin, MA
"Nottingham Loom" by Vicki McKenna is a black and white photographic print. As part of her Resilience series the image evocates the spirit of early 20th century industry...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Platinum
Anole Lizard
By David Johndrow
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, titled, numbered and print type in pencil on print verso by David Johndrow Series: Terrestrials Platinum Palladium print While integrating photography and his ...
Platinum
Orb Weaver
By David Johndrow
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed, titled, dated and print type. Platinum palladium print Paper size: 13 1/4 x 11 3/4 in., Image size: 10 x 10 in. While integrating photography and his passion ...
Platinum
Rooster
By David Johndrow
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15 Signed and numbered Platinum Palladium prints. Series: Terrestrials While integrating photography and his passion for gardening, David Johndrow discovered within his o...
Platinum
Sold
H 6.7 in W 9.06 in D 0.08 in
Iman on the Set of Beauty and Beasts - Photograph by Peter Beard - 1988
By Peter Beard
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage b/w photograph realized by Peter Beard in 1988. Copyright and provenance: Playboy. Playboy stamp on rear. Excellent condition.
Photographic Paper
...Inside a Camera
By Peter Beard
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Peter Beard (1938-2020) was an American artist, photographer, writer, and naturalist whose work captured the cultural imagination. His visceral documentation and interpretation demon...
Mixed Media, Photographic Paper
Sold
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Peter Beard - Beyond Gauguin Night Giraffe Feeding - Framed/Unsigned
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Beyond Gauguin Night Giraffe Feeding, Maureen Gallagher Late Night Feeder, 1987 Peter Beard/Unsigned The original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning and many other prints. Size image: 13 3/8 in. H x 19½ in. W Sheet size: 16 in. Hx 20 in. W x 1 in. D Framed: 25.5 in. H x 31 in. W Platinum print Peter Hill...
Platinum
Cheetah Cubs at Mweiga nr Nyeri, Kenya, 1968
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Attributed to Peter Beard- original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning and many others. Cheetah Cubs...
Black and White, Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Sold
H 9 in W 13.5 in
Large Tusker, Black and White Nature Photography of Elephant in Kenya, Africa
By Peter Beard
Located in New york, NY
Large tusker "Elephant" photograph by Peter Beard - 9” x 13.5” — is a signed gelatin silver photograph and dedicated ("greetings @xmas 1990 from Peter Beard), top of photo (left cor...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
"Beyond Gauguin", Night Giraffe Feeding
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Attributed to Peter Beard- original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning and many others.print Maureen Gallagher Late Night Feeder, 1987 Gelatin silver print size image 13 3/8in. x 19½ sheet: each 16in.20 x 1 25.5 x 31 in. framed ____________________________ Peter Hill...
Black and White, Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Cheetah Cubs at Mweiga nr Nyeri, Kenya, 1968
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Attributed to Peter Beard- original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning and many others. Cheetah Cubs...
Black and White, Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Sold
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.1 in
Peter Beard - The Death of Elephants in Tsavo Park, Platinum Print/Unsigned
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The Death of Elephants in Tsavo Park 1971 - 1972 Peter Beard/Unsigned The original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning and many others. Image size: 20 in. H x 16 in. W Platinum print Peter Hill...
Platinum
Sold
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Peter Beard - Elephant's Embryo, Uganda, Platinum Print- Unsigned
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Elephant's Embryo, Uganda Peter Beard/Unsigned The original photograph "unsigned" but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning, and many others. Image size: 16 in. H x 20 in. W Platinum print Peter Hill...
Platinum
Sold
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.1 in
Peter Beard - Francis Bacon at 80 Narrow Street, London, Unsigned
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Francis Bacon at 80 Narrow Street, London, March 1972 Peter Beard/Unsigned The original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning, and many others. Image size: 19½ in. H x 13 3/8 in. W Sheet size: 20 in. H x 16 in. W Platinum print Peter Hill...
Platinum, Archival Pigment
Peter Beard - Charge Déléphant/Unsigned
By Peter Beard
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Charge Déléphant Elephant reaching for the last branch on a tree, Kenya, 1965 Peter Beard/Unsigned The original photograph unsigned but documented by its inclusion in "Peter Beard - Fifty Years of Portraits, The End of the Game, Eyelids of Morning and many others. Image size: 19½ in. H x 13 3/8 in. W Sheet size: 20 in. H x 16 in. W Platinum print Peter Hill...
Platinum