Elliott Erwitt was that rare thing – an original. His elegantly composed photographs, always recognizable, are known for their wit, irony, and humanity. With charm and lack of pretense, Erwitt captured people both young and old and had a special affinity for animals. Although he avoided intellectualizing his pictures, Erwitt’s razor-sharp observations reveal his empathy and an innate understanding of the surrealism and humor of daily life.
An unconventional childhood contributed to Erwitt’s unusual perspective on life. Born in Paris in 1928 to Russian-Jewish parents, the family moved to Italy and immigrated to the US with the rise of fascism in 1939. Finding himself on his own in Los Angeles as a teenager, Erwitt acquired a camera and took up photography. He soon found success as a commercial photographer, but always carried two cameras: one for the job and one for personal observations. In 1953, he joined Magnum: the renowned photography collective where, in the late 1960s, he served as president for three years.
Over the years, Erwitt has been the subject of multiple solo museum exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Barbican Centre, London, among others. Organized by Staley-Wise Gallery in collaboration with the Erwitt family, this presentation coincides with the publication of Last Laughs (teNeues): a new book of photographs chosen by Erwitt before his death in 2023. The exhibition celebrates Elliott Erwitt’s incredible legacy and reveals his humor, humanity, and genius in every picture.