PRESSRELEASE UNSEEN: ICONS Photography by Phil Griffin

24th October - 23rd November 2018 Brownsword Hepworth Gallery 15 Walton Street, SW3 2HX

Brownsword Hepworth Gallery are pleased to announce an exhibition of previously unseen portraits by photographer Phil Griffin (24th October - 23rd November).

UNSEEN: ICONS brings together a series of intimate portraits, photographed across a 25 year period. Griffin's photographs often erase the preconceptions of these public and celebrated figures, capturing a sense of vulnerability and honesty, allowing the viewer a glimpse of the sitter's true self.

Griffin's work as a creative director within the entertainment industry meant he was able to forge close friendships with his sitters, who include Diana Ross, Amy Winehouse, Jon Bon Jovi, Adele, Sir Paul McCarney and HRH Princes Charles and William. He identified in each icon a shared trait - the desire to promote self belief and self worth in others. This motivation is at the heart of all of his photography and film work.

Phil Griffin is a multidisciplinary artist, photographer and film maker. After graduating from Ballet Rambert as a dancer and choreographer, he performed alongside Jan Fabre before moving to MCA in London to commission art films, visual campaigns and music videos for international artists including Destiny’s Child, Rhianna, Prince, Jay Z. Storytelling is at the heart of his work, whether through his portrait series or philanthropy, collaborating on campaigns for Hurricane Sandy Relief and the USA network Tolerance campaign. He writes:

‘To me, a good photograph is never taken - but given. My job was to make myself available to capture these moments of stillness from each of my collaborators, so each portrait is a moment of pure truth and self-expression. My aim is to use these works to further the conversation about wellbeing in the arts and entertainment industry.’

The exhibition is the first step of a wider project that aims to promote the wellbeing of young people through art and expression. A proportion of the proceeds will be donated to support The Princes Trust & Amy Winehouse Foundations programs.

For all press enquiries, including interview & images, please contact Lucy.Dundas@flint-culture.com or 0203 463 2085 NOTES TO EDITORS

Phil Griffin: Phil Griffin is an artist, filmmaker and photographer who has worked with international artists around the world. He has directed documentary features including Bon Jovi’s When We Were Beautiful, Britney: For the Record and a full-length feature of Prince’s record-breaking concert series 21 Nights in London. In 2016 he created a feature film Surrender exploring the work of Jan Fabre, from which Griffin secured his first solo exhibition of photographic art At The Gallery in Antwerp. In 2017 he was artist in residence at the Troubleyn Performing Arts Company in Belgium and participated in the Artist/ Knight exhibition at Castle Gasbeek alongside Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin and Marina Abramovic.

www.philgriffin.co.uk

Brownsword Hepworth: Brownsword Hepworth are Agents and Dealers specialising in Modern British and Contemporary Art with a special emphasis on the work of Keith Vaughan.

The new gallery in Walton Street, Chelsea offers a curated selection of Modernist Painting, Sculpture and Eclectic Art. Brownsword Hepworth’s experienced and friendly team offers an acute understanding of the art market and are committed to assisting clients in the creation and pursuit of their own individual art collections. 15 Walton Street, London, SW3 2HX Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday by appointment www.brownswordhepworth.co.uk

The Princes Trust: Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track. It supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Many of the young people helped by The Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law.

The Trust’s programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training. The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped 825,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each day. www.princes-trust.org.uk

Amy Winehouse Foundation: The Amy Winehouse Foundation works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people. We also aim to support, inform and inspire vulnerable and disadvantaged young people to help them reach their full potential.

They do this through a range of initiatives and programmes, which include the Resilience Programme for Schools, a groundbreaking drug & alcohol awareness and prevention programme for secondary schools; Amy’s Yard, an intensive music programme which supports the personal development of disadvantaged young people; Amy’s Place, which helps women leaving treatment for addictions to reintegrate into society with the best possible opportunity of sustaining their recovery and building a fulfilling life. It also includes Music Therapy for Children, where those with life-limiting conditions are helped to address important developmental needs through music therapy. www.amywinehousefoundation.org

For all press enquiries, including interview & images, please contact Lucy.Dundas@flint-culture.com or 0203 463 2085