Saint Laurent Rive Droite Los Angeles and Saint Laurent Babylone are pleased to host an exhibition by artist Antonio Lopez, featuring a selection of his iconic Instamatic and Polaroid photography, curated by Anthony Vaccarello.
Antonio Lopez, born in 1943 in Puerto Rico, was a renowned artist, fashion illustrator and photographer who marked the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with his innovative style and strong influence on fashion and pop culture. His unique style, characterized by dynamic and sensual illustrations, captivated numerous couture houses and magazines. Along with his creative partner Juan Ramos, Antonio Lopez worked for publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and The New York Times, and collaborated with designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Charles James, and Karl Lagerfeld. Beyond his fashion contributions, Lopez was also known for his relationships with cultural icons and models like Jerry Hall, Grace Jones, and Jessica Lange.
In the early 1970s, while living in Paris, Antonio Lopez began using a Kodak Instamatic camera, and later a Polaroid SX-70, to document his friends, models, and muses, capturing spontaneous glimpses of his everyday life and moments where his social and professional circles intersected. Initially approaching photography as reportage, he quickly became fascinated with it as a means of art production and visual exploration. Working thematically, he created several iconic series in which a location or an accessory became a recurring motif—such as ribbons, a red coat, or a shower stall. He would photograph the same subject multiple times, arranging these images into grids reminiscent of film stills or advertising storyboards.
Antonio Lopez’ Polaroids and Instamatics are more than just images; they are time capsules that contain the essence of an era defined by a unique and dazzling cultural environment.
This exhibition brings together a rich selection of these series and was realized in collaboration with The Antonio Archives, whose mission it is to preserve, protect, and celebrate The Estate and Archive of Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos.
COURTESY OF The Estate and Archive of Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos.
EXHIBITION DATES:
SAINT LAURENT BABYLONE
04.12.24 - 02.02.25
RIVE DROITE LOS ANGELES
04.12.24 - 03.02.25
GET DIRECTIONS TO SAINT LAURENT BABYLONE