Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz, an iconic portrait photographer, was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. She grew up in a large, close-knit Jewish family. Her father was a career military man, and her mother was a modern dance instructor. Annie's interest in art began early, and she pursued painting during her years at the San Francisco Art Institute.

In 1970, Annie Leibovitz began her career in earnest by joining Rolling Stone magazine as a staff photographer. This opportunity provided her the platform to hone her skills and realize her distinctive style. Over the next decade, Leibovitz would become the magazine’s chief photographer, producing many of its most iconic images.

On December 7, 1980, Annie Leibovitz conducted a photo session with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, capturing one of the most famous images in pop culture history. The photograph features Lennon lying nude and curled up against Yoko Ono. Tragically, this was the last professional photograph taken of Lennon, as he was murdered hours later.

In 1983, Annie Leibovitz left Rolling Stone to join Vanity Fair magazine, where she further developed her signature style. At Vanity Fair, Leibovitz broadened her scope beyond the music industry, photographing celebrities from all walks of life. Her work helped define the visual style of the magazine and solidified her reputation in the industry.

In October 1991, the retrospective exhibit "Annie Leibovitz: Photographs 1970-1990" opened at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. This exhibition showcased over 200 of her works, illustrating her evolution as a photographer and her role in capturing the zeitgeist of the 20th century's latter half, with poignant and memorable portraits.

In 2005, Annie Leibovitz took on the magical assignment of photographing the cast of the Harry Potter films for a special issue of Vanity Fair. Her photographs captured the essence and mystique of the beloved characters and brought the world of Harry Potter to life through her unique, imaginative vision that spread across the pages of the magazine.

Beginning in 2007, Annie Leibovitz embarked on a series of Disney Dream Portraits, in which celebrities were transformed into Disney characters. This project featured a star-studded cast, including actors such as Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella, giving life to a fantastical interpretation of beloved fairy tale figures with her unmistakable style.

In 2008, "Annie Leibovitz at Work" was published, offering an in-depth look at her famous photographs and touching on her process and philosophy. In this book, Leibovitz provides insights into her creative mind, detailing the stories behind some of her most iconic images, and the artistic challenges faced throughout her storied career.

On February 17, 2012, "Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage" opened at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, showcasing a series of photographs taken as a personal project. Unlike her celebrity portraits, these images depicted places and objects of American history and culture that inspired her, emphasizing her depth and versatility as a photographer.

In February 2019, Annie Leibovitz's exhibition "Portraits 2005-2016" opened in Europe. This exhibit, which toured multiple locations, presented a collection of images from her career, highlighting her unique ability to capture the essence of her subjects. The works featured portraits of influential and famous individuals from various spheres of life.