We are pleased to present an unprecedented look at the New York City Ballet with photographer Henry Leutwyler’s exhibition Ballet, opening on Wednesday, November 28th, 2012.
After collaborating with the New York City Ballet for many years, Leutwyler was granted unprecedented backstage access to the NYCB during the winter of 2012. Using his 35mm Leica, he explored the performers’ personal space and produced honest, unguarded moments of more than 80 dancers from the company. From classes, to rehearsals, to the moment when the curtain rises, Leutwyler’s images reveal details of the ballet that few of us have been granted the opportunity to see.
Recalling Alexey Brodovitch’s ballet photography in the late 1930’s, Leutwyler examines the pageantry of color and costume both in performance and preparation. His large-scale color and black & white photographs explore a contemporary setting of an art form that remains true to its classic origins. Leutwyler sees and feels the gestures and emotions in such a way that we are transfixed, as if we are a part of the dance ourselves.
“Henry’s images depict a more atmospheric, and in some cases abstract portrayal of our world. One that is experienced first-hand by a rare few” – Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Leutwyler’s photographs will be published in a 488-page book, Ballet, with over 270 photographs. Steidl will release the book on November 15th.
Leutwyler’s first show at Foley, Neverland Lost, focused on the personal artifacts of Michael Jackson from Neverland Ranch that were to be auctioned off during the singer's lifetime.
Leutwyler was born in Switzerland in 1961. He lived in Paris for ten years, where he began photographing the Ballet Bejart Dance Company. He travelled extensively with the company before moving to New York to focus on photographing theater and the arts. Leutwyler’s past subjects include Michelle Obama, Julia Roberts, Tom Wolfe, Beyoncé Knowles, Martin Scorsese, and Spike Lee. His work has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, Portfolio, Esquire, Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Time. His works have earned him the ASME 2008 Magazine Cover of the Year Award and Graphis Magazine 2008 Photographer of the Year.
Ballet will remain on view through January 6th, 2013. Foley is open Wednesday – Sunday 12 – 6PM. For more information or to request images, please contact the gallery at 212.244.9081 or via email at info@foleygallery.com.