Exhibition Review: Jean Pigozzi | The Beverly Hills Edition
All images are copyright of Jean Pigozzi, Courtesy Hedges Projects, Los Angeles.
Written by Jaden Zalkind
Copy Edited by Robyn Hager
Photo Edited by Athena Abdien
Jean (Johnny) Pigozzi has led an extraordinary life and is well versed in many different crafts such as art-collecting, photography, philanthropy, and fashion design. Pigozzi was introduced to some of the world’s most influential and captivating people which impacted the work in his most recent exhibition.
All images are copyright of Jean Pigozzi, Courtesy Hedges Projects, Los Angeles.
With the exhibition, Jean Pigozzi: The Photographs, Beverly Hills to Cap d’Antibes at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Pigozzi offers the viewer a glimpse into the rarefied world and community of the Beverly Hills Hotel during the 80’s and 90’s. Pigozzi had many elongated stays at the hotel during this time period, one time even lodging for a year. Pigozzi extensively photographed during this time, in pictures that also included himself, and by doing so he uses the camera as a tool to show his keen engagement with the world around him. Seeing Pigozzi in some of his own work is immensely refreshing, and resultantly doesn’t obstruct or distract the viewer away from the other people in the photographs. Amongst the photos of celebrities, Pigozzi includes images that aren’t just specific to the Beverly Hills Hotel but are elegant in their own regard; one of these being a photograph of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mick Jagger in Cannes, France.
All images are copyright of Jean Pigozzi, Courtesy Hedges Projects, Los Angeles.
Pigozzi’s exhibition on view at the Beverly Hills Hotel features 39 photos that capture moments from his time spent at the Beverly Hills hotel in the 1980’s and 1990’s and is the first time that such a copious amount of his work has been exhibited at once. Most of the photographs depict celebrities and friends of Pigozzi, featuring people such as Steve Jobs, Andy Warhol, and Harrison Ford, and many more.
All the photographs feel rather affectionate and even intimate at times, as if we know in some way the people represented. Most of the people captured in these photos are very well-known celebrities we may only see in the media. Yet, Pigozzi captures them in such a manner that sanctions the viewer to feel a sense of connection toward them. His choice to snapshot moments of revelry and leisure creates an intimate and candid perception of his work which portrays a side of these individuals that is hardly seen elsewhere.
All images are copyright of Jean Pigozzi, Courtesy Hedges Projects, Los Angeles.
All images are copyright of Jean Pigozzi, Courtesy Hedges Projects, Los Angeles.
Pigozzi’s picture with Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger encapsulates an exuberant and intimate feeling because of how up close and personal the photo is as well as how comfortable they are with each other. We can see all three of their faces pressed up against one another, with Jerry Hall giving a grand smile and Mick Jagger snarling while Pigozzi himself is in the middle with a mild grin. Another fascinating element to this photograph is that it is a selfie that was taken in the late 70’s, something that was very rare. His vast collection of celebrity selfies led people to eventually deem him as “The Celebrity Selfie King”.
Pigozzi wanted to document his life, and since he couldn’t read his handwriting due to his dyslexia, he was left with one option: visual documentation. His urge to document his life led him to become a pioneer in the photography world and allow for everyone to see unique photos of some of the most influential people in the world in an intimate manner. Aside from his work being fascinating to look at, it is inspiring because it pushes us to follow our passions like he did; and most importantly, have fun while doing it. Viewing these images, you are not only stunned by the breadth of Pigozzi’s relationships - but by his creative intuition.
All images are copyright of Jean Pigozzi, Courtesy Hedges Projects, Los Angeles.
