MK Gallery; Saul Leiter

Milton Keynes may feel like it could be a cultural moonscape, but they have a thriving theatre, a lively shopping centre, and a great art gallery called MK.
I took my mother with me to see an exhibition of work by Saul Leiter, who was a fashion photographer and painter, who died in 2013.

Saul Leiter at MK Gallery Exhibition Poster
Saul Leiter at MK Gallery Exhibition Poster

The photographs in the exhibition, are a mix of his private and professional collection, all have a typographical edge to them and an enjoyment of the human form. He studied Japanese calligraphy, which is evident in his work, and use of depth of field. His paintings were influenced by abstract expressionism, as where he lived in New York, he was surrounded by artists, Mark Rothko being one of them.

Abstract Expressionist Painting
Abstract Expressionist Painting


His photographs tell the everyday story of life in 1950s New York, right up to early 2000’s. His fashion photography for Harpers Bazar is casual and engaging, and his use of colour shows the hand of an artist who was ahead of his time. He often shot his photos on out of date film stock, to experiment with the resulting colours, which would develop during film and print processing.

Colour fashion sketches
Colour fashion sketches
Harpers Bazaar magazine cover photography
Harpers Bazaar magazine cover photography

In his work he talks of the importance of love, over the importance of all else, and this thread runs through his work, it is evident that he loved community, people and adventure.

1950s New York street photography
1950s New York street photography


The exhibition has finished, but MK is hosting its summer show from end of June to end of September, which will be a riot I’m sure.

www.mkgallery.org

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