Skip to main content

Fred Lyon Photography

American, b. 1927
Known as “San Francisco’s Brassa,” Fred Lyon is a San Francisco native whose photographs have appeared in magazines such as Life, Look, Sports Illustrated, and Vogue. Lyon studied with Ansel Adams, and his photographs over the years have included news, fashion, advertising, and jazz. He’s photographed Billie Holiday and Sonny Rollins as well as dock workers, kids playing on the city’s famously steep Kearny Street, and fishermen in Sausalito. He has explored every corner of his hometown over the years, including photographing bridge painters touching up the Golden Gate Bridge, graphic black-and-white photographs of the city’s neighborhoods and architecture, and images of San Francisco at night.
to
1
6
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
7
6
5
2
5
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
1
1
7
10,836
2,839
2,494
1,422
6
1
Artist: Fred Lyon
Foggy Night, Land's End, San Francisco, CA

Foggy Night, Land's End, San Francisco, CA

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Lyon has been called "San Francisco's Brassaï," and has also been compared to Cartier-Bresson, Atget, and Andre Kertesz, but with a San Francisco twist. The lifelong San Francisco Native happily admits his debt to those icons.

 Now at eighty-eight years old, his nonstop career reaches back to the early 1940s and embracing news, fashion, architecture, advertising, and food. In the golden years of magazines, his picture credits were everywhere from LIFE to VOGUE. He is now combining his extensive picture files for galleries, publishers, and print collectors. c) The Estate of Fred Lyon Courtesy. Peter Fetterman Gallery

Category

1950s Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

San Francisco. 'Seagull over Golden Gate Bridge, 1950s'. Book & Signed Print
San Francisco. 'Seagull over Golden Gate Bridge, 1950s'. Book & Signed Print

San Francisco. 'Seagull over Golden Gate Bridge, 1950s'. Book & Signed Print

By Fred Lyon

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An epic pictorial history of the City by the Bay Starting with an early picture of a gang of badass gold prospectors who put this beautiful Northern California city on the map, this ambitious and immersive photographic history of San Francisco takes a winding tour through the city from the mid–nineteeth century to the present day. Enjoy eye-catching views of the city’s most enduring landmarks and symbols: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, the picturesque trams that wind up and down the famously steep hills, the popular waterfront, its beautiful bay, and its spectacular cityscapes and vistas. San Francisco’s counterculture movements that shaped our collective consciousness are also featured prominently: the beats of North Beach, the hippies of Haight-Ashbury, the gay communities of Castro, and the Black Panthers of neighboring Oakland. Some of the city’s most famous residents also make appearances: Robin Williams, The Grateful Dead, Angela Davis...

Category

Mid-20th Century Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Digital, Digital Pigment

Fog Along Embarcadero

Fog Along Embarcadero

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

signed, titled, dated by artist in pencil, verso (c) The Estate of Fred Lyon Courtesy. Peter Fetterman Gallery

Category

1950s Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Huntington Hotel

Huntington Hotel

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

signed, titled, dated by artist in pencil, verso (c) The Estate of Fred Lyon Courtesy. Peter Fetterman Gallery

Category

1950s Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Related Items
Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins
Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins

Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins

By Kevin Cummins

Located in Austin, TX

Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Ian Curtis by Kevin Cummins. Edition number 38/75 This iconic shot of the Joy Division singer was taken at T...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Frida by the Window - Frida Kahlo, painter, portrait, plant, icon
Frida by the Window - Frida Kahlo, painter, portrait, plant, icon

Frida by the Window - Frida Kahlo, painter, portrait, plant, icon

By Lucienne Bloch

Located in Denton, TX

Frida by the Window by Lucienne Bloch depicts the iconic Mexican artist posing with her back towards the window, with only a sliver of light illuminating her. Image size: 10 x 7 in....

Category

1930s Modern Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Black and White Photography Set of Nine
Black and White Photography Set of Nine

Black and White Photography Set of Nine

By Richard Heeps

Located in Cambridge, GB

A set of nine black and white photographs by Richard Heeps. They can be hung in a grid, or spaced out throughout your interior. Richard Heeps, primarily known as a colour photographe...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin

Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman signed limited edition 16x20" print
Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman signed limited edition 16x20" print

Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman signed limited edition 16x20" print

By Baron Wolman

Located in Austin, TX

Jimi Hendrix by iconic photographer, Baron Wolman. Taken at the Travelodge Motel, San Francisco, February 1968 One copy available Signed limited edition #30/175 20x16” hand printed ...

Category

1960s Photorealist Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

By Greg Brennan

Located in Austin, TX

HM The Queen is released as a 20x24 print in a limited edition, Gelatin Silver Print of 25, with 3 artist proofs, signed and numbered photographer on the front. The print comes with a letter of authenticity signed by the photographer, including a reproduction of the letter Greg Brennan...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Iggy Pop Scala Cinema London 1972

Iggy Pop Scala Cinema London 1972

By Alec Byrne

Located in Austin, TX

Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Iggy Pop by Alec Byrne, taken at the Scala Cinema, Kings Cross, London, July 15th 1972. Alec Byrne signed ...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Tina Turner
Tina Turner

Andy WarholTina Turner, 1985

$18,000

H 8 in W 10 in

Tina Turner

By Andy Warhol

Located in Indianapolis, IN

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) Tina Turner 1985 Unique gelatin silver print Size: 8 x 10 in (20.3 x 25.4 cm) Frame size: 16 x 17.5 in (40.6 x 44.4 cm) Unsigned Authenticated by the Authen...

Category

1980s Pop Art Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Jimi Hendrix live 1968

Jimi Hendrix live 1968

By Barrie Wentzell

Located in Austin, TX

Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Jimi Hendrix taken by Barrie Wentzell, live at the Woburn Music Festival, Woburn UK, 6th July 1968. The July 1968 Woburn festival was ...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Alex Collar

Ted AdamsAlex Collar, 2011

$1,000

H 11 in W 14 in

Alex Collar

By Ted Adams

Located in Hudson, NY

Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition of 25. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is produced upon purchase. Please allow two weeks for production. Shipping time depends on method of shipping. Price is subject to availability. The Robin Rice Gallery reserves the right to adjust this price depending on the current edition of the photograph. Ted Adams’ first solo show at the Robin Rice Gallery juxtaposes surrealism with the documentary art form. What differentiates Mr. Adams’ work from traditional photojournalism is his keen eye for capturing the irony in the events that unfold before our eyes. It is the found objects in everyday life to which Adams is most attuned. He creates a subtle mood and visual mystery that conveys meaning not only from the image itself but also through imagining what exists just beyond the frame. "I see photography as a way of cropping the world—selectively taking things out of context—which often results in stripping the meaning out of the original subject matter, or at least making the image open to interpretation. It’s the opposite of traditional photojournalism whose intention is to create ‘narrative’ and context rather than discard them." While he has exhibited artistic photography in a variety of genres, in the past five years he turned his artistic eye inward to reflect a more autobiographical tone. While some people compare his work to that of Robert Frank, Adams finds himself more and more influenced by Larry Clark whose career was built on pictures drawn from his own life and drug-addled friends rather than a specific documentary mission. The unique presentation of this collection of twenty-three silver gelatin prints enhances the voyeuristic sensibility of Mr. Adams’ work. Each photograph is jewel box in size, measuring 4" x 6" to invite the viewer in to make an intimate appraisal. The craftsmanship of the wide, dark wood frames hearkens back to late 19th-century Shaker design—yet the aesthetic is boldly contemporary, providing a strong backdrop to draw the viewer’s gaze directly to the subject matter. This artisanship extends to the printing where Adams exhibits his skills in traditional darkroom processes. He shoots mostly with Leica and Nikon 35mm film cameras...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Tommy Apple and Peggy Pear" Frontispiece Silver Gelatin Print 1935/ 1940
"Tommy Apple and Peggy Pear" Frontispiece Silver Gelatin Print 1935/ 1940

"Tommy Apple and Peggy Pear" Frontispiece Silver Gelatin Print 1935/ 1940

By Henry Rox 1

Located in Camden, ME

Henry Rox (1899–1967) Frontispiece Tommy Apple and Peggy Pear by James Laver. Jonathan Cape, London, 1936 Negative 1935 (print c. 1940) Vintage silver gelatin print 8.25 x 6 inches V...

Category

1940s Dada Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Monica Vitti

Terry O'NeillMonica Vitti, 1966

$15,500

H 60 in W 60 in

Monica Vitti

By Terry O'Neill

Located in New York, NY

Monica Vitti, 1966 Silver Gelatin Print 60 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition of 50 Posthumous print Italian actress Monica Vitti's one bid for Hollywood stardom was in "Modesty Blaise...

Category

1960s Modern Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Holding the Herd

Adam JahielHolding the Herd

$1,600

H 14 in W 14 in

Holding the Herd

By Adam Jahiel

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For years, Jahiel has been photographing the cowboys of the Great Basin–perhaps one of the most inhospitable regions of the already rugged West. These people represent one of the l...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Previously Available Items
San Francisco. 'Union Square, Post Street, 1947'. Signed, Black & White Print
San Francisco. 'Union Square, Post Street, 1947'. Signed, Black & White Print

San Francisco. 'Union Square, Post Street, 1947'. Signed, Black & White Print

By Fred Lyon

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An epic pictorial history of the City by the Bay Starting with an early picture of a gang of badass gold prospectors who put this beautiful Northern California city on the map, this ambitious and immersive photographic history of San Francisco takes a winding tour through the city from the mid–nineteeth century to the present day. Enjoy eye-catching views of the city’s most enduring landmarks and symbols: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, the picturesque trams that wind up and down the famously steep hills, the popular waterfront, its beautiful bay, and its spectacular cityscapes and vistas. San Francisco’s counterculture movements that shaped our collective consciousness are also featured prominently: the beats of North Beach, the hippies of Haight-Ashbury, the gay communities of Castro, and the Black Panthers of neighboring Oakland. Some of the city’s most famous residents also make appearances: Robin Williams, The Grateful Dead, Angela Davis...

Category

Mid-20th Century Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Digital, Digital Pigment

Opening Night at the Opera, San Francisco

Opening Night at the Opera, San Francisco

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Lyon has been called "San Francisco's Brassaï," and has also been compared to Cartier-Bresson, Atget, and Andre Kertesz, but with a San Francisco twist. The lifelong San Francisco Na...

Category

1940s Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Cable Car Line, San Francisco

Cable Car Line, San Francisco

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Lyon has been called "San Francisco's Brassaï," and has also been compared to Cartier-Bresson, Atget, and Andre Kertesz, but with a San Francisco twist. The lifelong San Francisco Na...

Category

1950s Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Richard Diebenkorn

Richard Diebenkorn

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Category

Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Opening Night at the Opera, San Francisco

Opening Night at the Opera, San Francisco

By Fred Lyon

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Opening Night at the Opera, San Francisco 1949 Gelatin Silver print Signed & titled in pencil on verso. 16 x 20 inches. Matted to 20 x 24 inches. Additional sizes available.

Category

1940s Fred Lyon Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Fred Lyon photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Fred Lyon photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Fred Lyon in silver gelatin print, archival paper, digital pigment print and more. Not every interior allows for large Fred Lyon photography, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Ida Lansky, Harold Feinstein, and Ezra Stoller. Fred Lyon photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,500 and tops out at $10,000, while the average work can sell for $7,500.