Robert Farber
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ROBERT FARBER Photographs 1975 – Present Robert Farber's global recognition has been established through his books, fine art exhibitions, lectures,TV interviews and award winning advertising campaigns in the genres of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Robert Farber’s style has influenced generations of photographers. His painterly, impressionistic style captures the essence of composition in every genre, including nudes, still life, landscapes and architecture. His thirteen photo art books have sold over half a million copies. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis brought Farber into Doubleday for the publication of his book “By The Sea,” which won the Art Director’s Award for color photography. Aside from numerous creative awards, Robert Farber also received the Photographer of the Year from PMA (Photo-graphic Manufacturers Association), ASP International Award from the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and The American Society of Photographers. This award was given to those who’ve made a significant contribution to the science and art of photography. Some previous recipients of this award include Dr. Edwin Land (inventor of the Polaroid), George Hurrell, and National Geographic. Farber’s work with nudes in fine art as well as in the commercial realm is known and respected. He has lectured for Ogilvy & Mather on the “Nude in Advertising.” ASMP requested to use Farber’s nudes as its backing of the controversial Mapplethorpe/Serrano exhibit. His book, “Farber Nudes,” was also included in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis estate collection. Farber’s fine art photographs have been published in virtually every form. He has exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. He’s lectured at the Smithsonian Institute, The George East-man House, as well as universities and professional groups throughout the United States, Japan, Australian and Europe. Aside from his fine art photography, Robert Farber’s work encompasses major campaigns for fashion, beauty and advertising, as well as directing for TV and film. A documentary highlighting Farber’s life and career is in development for PBS. ICONIC NUDES “Today there are tens of thousands of serious photographers seeking new interpretations of the beauty of the female form. There is but a handful whose work truly interests us by revealing dierent ways of seeing and understanding this beauty. Robert Farber is one of the very few who is able to delight and please us in this elusive approach to nature. From abstraction to realism he reveals to us his love of the female form. His delightful and beautiful photographs oer a unique pleasure.” -Arnold Newman, preface to the book, Natural Beauty, April 2001 VINTAGE FASHION This collection encompasses Farber's commercial work done in the 70s, 80s, and 90s for clients across the luxury goods, health + beauty, and fashion categories. Publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Vanity Fair continually commissioned Farber, drawn to his unique painterly style and his ability for stylized work, which could still coax out the candid and authentic spirit of his subjects. These works coincided with the rise of the supermodel and include an archive of such luminary talent as Gia Carangi, Linda Evangelista, Carol Alt, and Iman. ROBERT FARBER A COLLABORATION WITH TIME The Transformation Series "When exploring my archive of images, which go back to 1969, I not only rediscovered images that would now be considered classic or vintage, but also a new life in the works themselves, created only by my collaboration with time." The transformation of the transparencies is the result of the film's chemical reaction from decades of sitting in non-archival plastic sleeves. Farber took his time observing the process as it unfolded, never once manipulating or retouching the images. After careful examination, he selected the moment when the transformation in front of him bore its own aesthetic perfection and, like a painter nearing the end of a painting, stopped the creative process and froze the metamorphosis of these vintage images. Timeline for the Robert Farber Transformation Series 1977-1984 Photos were captured Early 90s First noticed the film’s transformation Early 90s – 2013 Revisit archives to monitor the transformation 2013 Determination point to stop the transformation and archivally preserve UNSEEN / MIDNIGHT STUDIO While gaining notoriety in the art and commercial photography arenas in the mid-70s, Farber was approached by several publishers of provacative men’s magazines, such as Hustler, Playboy, and Penthouse, among others. Farber was concerned with tarnishing his growing reputation by accepting their commissions. The artist ultimately agreed, but with the stipulation that the work be created under various pseudonyms. Thirty years later, Farber has decided to reveal this collection along with new provocative images, and attach his own name to the work. The collection debuted as part of the Frieze NY VIP exhibition program at the WhiteBox gallery in 2017. BOOKS H E X T O N | moder n a nd contempor ar y [email protected] | 847.564.2000 ext. 2 | www.hextongallery.com.