SmithDavidson Gallery is proud to present Icons in Focus, a curated selection of photographs by two groundbreaking image-makers: Terry O’Neill and Janette Beckman.
Terry O’Neill (1938–2019) is celebrated as one of the most important photographers of the 20th century. His candid yet glamorous portraits captured the defining figures of film, fashion, and music, legends such as The Beatles, Brigitte Bardot, and David Bowie. With an instinct for timing and intimacy, O’Neill redefined celebrity photography, offering not just documentation but timeless cultural icons.
Janette Beckman, by contrast, brought her lens to the streets, documenting subcultures with a raw authenticity that continues to resonate. From London’s punk and mod scenes in the late 1970s to the rise of hip hop in New York during the 1980s, Beckman’s photographs are infused with grit, attitude, and an unfiltered sense of style. Her work is a vital visual archive of music, youth culture, and resistance.
Together, O’Neill and Beckman highlight two distinct yet complementary approaches to portraiture: one steeped in the allure of stardom, the other rooted in grassroots movements and underground scenes. Their images not only freeze moments in time but also reflect the cultural currents that continue to shape how we see identity, music, and rebellion.
