Michael James O'Brien

Liverpool's annual international photography festival, LOOK/17 is now in full swing, featuring a programme which focuses on cultural exchange between Liverpool and Hong Kong http://www.lookphotofestival.com

But there is also a very full Fringe programme including other sorts of cultural exchange.

The show, 'His Tender Heir', at The Gallery on Stanhope Street, is a celebration of 30 years' of work by Michael James O'Brien and features a series of over 30 portraits of people from Liverpool, including a gorgeous picture of my pal Jodie (you'll remember her... https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2294388147749916232 )

Also included in the exhibition are selections from O'Brien's previous projects, such as 'Portrait of a Young Man' and 'Girlfriend' as well as portraits of famous faces including Gilbert and George, Jude Law and Quentin Crisp, and selections from his collaborative work with the artist Matthew Barney.

O'Brien, a native New Yorker - whose work has featured in such publications as Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, GQ, The New York Times Magazine and The Guardian - now lives in Atlanta, GA where he is Associate Chair, Photography at Savannah College of Art and Design.

He's in town this weekend and was at The Gallery this afternoon to give a talk about his work, and his life in photography.

It was fascinating to hear him speak about his approach to portraiture; the times he spent working alongside, and learning from, two of the great 20th Century photographers - Walker Evans and Diane Arbus; gay night life in New York in the 1980s and the impact of AIDS on his generation in particular. And much more.

Given his photographic pedigree, I was, understandably, a little nervous about asking him if I could take his picture... but he couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. Here's the result. Thanks to him for his patience!

The exhibition continues until 30th April and I urge you to get along and see it if you can! If you can't, you can see some of his work at www.michaeljamesobrien.com


I can't be sure what they listened to in the New York gay clubs of the '80s but they were certainly listening to this in Liverpool... www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpfFFvf_6og