Profile
Tony McGee is a British photographer and filmmaker renowned for his advertising campaigns and celebrity portraiture. Living in London’s Chelsea during a time when the borough was the epicentre of cool and taste-making, at the age of sixteen McGee decided to become a fashion photographer and by seventeen had shot covers for Harpers Bazaar and Vogue.
McGee has worked for publications internationally from American Vogue to Elle to Rolling Stone, The NewYorker and The Sunday Times and he is credited as taking the first-ever professional picture of Kate Moss. In the early 1980s McGee was introduced to the world of rock and roll photography and worked with the likes of Roxy Music, David Bowie, George Michael and Tina Turner.
At a cocktail party in 1983, Jerry Hall introduced McGee to David Bowie. From there, many iconic photoshoots took place and a 30 year-long friendship unfolded.
David Bowie 20/20 VISION showcases David Bowie’s unique relationship with his own ‘sense of self’ captured through the lens of award-winning photographer and close friend Tony McGee.
The shots were hand selected ‘on set’ by Bowie himself, as a reflection of his own inner image and the photographs clearly demonstrate the creative continuity and trust between the two men.
The landmark STARTnet project presented at Saatchi Gallery presents Bowie in contemplative state, capturing a private David, away from the many public facets and personas of his own character. There is a vulnerability and sensitivity in Bowie rarely seen. The portraits are both powerful as they
are poignant, beautifully capturing the essence of the shapeshifting, beguiling, enigmatic super star.
Tony McGee
Minds Eye, 1982
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 200 x 150 cm
£8,000
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 100 x 75 cm
£4,000
Each unique image of David as thoughtful as the next, documenting personal moments.
Only McGee has the key to unlock the narrative and emotions behind these timeless photographs.
From a young age David was acutely aware of the importance of self-image as an integral a part of his own personal creative expression. These artistic outputs continue to inspire and influence global fashion, pop, LGBTQ culture and art
Contrary to general belief, Bowie’s vision was perfect, and he could see clearly in both eyes despite his left eye being permanently dilated due to a condition called anisocoria, manifesting itself as an inequality in the size and colour of the pupil. David’s anisocoria was caused in a childhood fight over a girl with his friend the artist George Underwood, painter- and creator of album covers for Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Low, The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Tony McGee
Anisocoria, 1982
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 100 x 75 cm
£4,000
Tony McGee
The Collector, 1982
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 200 x 150 cm
£8,000
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 100 x 75 cm
£4,000
Each unique image of David as thoughtful as the next, documenting personal moments.
Only McGee has the key to unlock the narrative and emotions behind these timeless photographs.
From a young age David was acutely aware of the importance of self-image as an integral a part of his own personal creative expression. These artistic outputs continue to inspire and influence global fashion, pop, LGBTQ culture and art
Tony McGee
Destiny, 1982
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 200 x 150 cm
£8,000
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 100 x 75 cm
£4,000
McGee reflects “David would insist on viewing the transparencies and results of our photographic sessions and loved to scribble across the ‘contact sheets’ knowing precisely what he wanted to achieve from our photographic sessions. He was always pushing boundaries and I was privileged that David trusted my eye and lens to filter his own vision.
I was lucky enough to work with some great artists, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, The Four Tops, Bob Dylan... and more, but without a shadow of a doubt, collaborating with David created some powerful work and represented the beginning of a trusted and a loyal relationship between photographer and his subject. David was fascinated with emerging technology how an image is created. We spoke about his love of photography and how passion creates a key role in art. David would very much appreciate STARTnet and its power to curate and showcase global art.”
Mark Armstrong
20/20 VISON co-curator and collaborator of David Bowie and Tony McGee.
Tony McGee
INTROSPECTIVE, 1982
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 200 x 150 cm
£8,000
Edition of 5 prints Archival pigment ink on baryta paper 100 x 75 cm
£4,000
