Iconic 20th Century Harry Benson photos at Liss Gallery

Joey Amato —An extraordinary collection of photographs by world-renowned photojournalist Harry Benson, whose creative passions have allowed him to master this extraordinary form of expression. Benson’s distinguished career, spanning six decades of capturing Presidents, Celebrities, Rock Stars and the world’s most famous and iconic figures on film, has elevated him to a status unparalled in his artistic category: a social commentary captured through the lens.

His photographs are housed in the permanent collections of many prominent private collections and public institutions including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Both museums hosted the exhibition: Harry Benson: Being There (2006-2007).

Benson & The Beatles

Scottish born photojournalist Harry Benson arrived in America with the Beatles in 1964, and went on to travel with the Beatles across the globe, photographing them in the great cities of the world; Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New York, Miami and capturing the Beatles’ World Tours 1 and 3. The resultant photographs are the treasures that have defined Harry Benson, and his works are the most

celebrated and collected of their kind.

A limited edition compilation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America was published by Taschen in the spring of 2012. The popular coffee table edition of that book entitled The Beatles on the Road 1964-1966 was published this past spring to great acclaim.

His portraiture, his editorial work, his journalism and his chronicling of the world’s most important people, places, and events have made Harry Benson an iconic figure, and a rat

her historical one. This Toronto exhibition, quite diverse, quite celebratory and rather retrospective, offers to the patron and to the collector the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and to acquire the captured images of a moving society. This Collection is, truly, a magnificent glimpse of the best our world has to offer.

Liss Gallery, Toronto’s premier Fine Art Gallery, presents “Harry Benson: The Beatles 50th Anniversary” an extraordinary collection of contemporary artworks by legendary photojournalist Harry Benson. Beginning on November 16, 2013, the public will be able to view and acquire the works at the Liss Gallery on Yorkville Avenue. The exhibition will run through December 16, 2013 with a very special appearance by Harry Benson on Saturday, November 16 from 6:30 – 9:00 pm. RSVP’s are required: 416-787-9872.

Harry Benson has captured many of the major political and social events in modern history and his work ranges from world leaders to pop stars. His subjects are as diverse as Sir Winston Churchill and The Rolling Stones, and range from Queen Elizabeth II to Brad Pitt. He has photographed every U.S. president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack H. Obama; traveled with Senator Robert Kennedy on the presidential campaign trail and was next to him when he was assassinated in 1968; in the room with President Richard Nixon when he resigned; on the Civil Rights Meredith March with Martin Luther King, Jr in 1966.; next to Coretta Scott King at her husband’s funeral; on undercover manoeuvres with the IRA; was there when the Berlin Wall went up and when it came down; and he has covered the wars in Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia and the Gulf War in Saudi Arabia. This exhibition is a visual exploration into the greatest moments in history.

All images on this page: ©Harry-Benson