The Duffy Archive - Photographer (original) (raw)
Duffy - (15 June 1933 – 31 May 2010)
Duffy’s cutting-edge photography documents the vibrancy of “the Swinging 60’s” London scene when the city was at the height of cool and places him in the photographic history books as one of the UK’s most respected photographers.
Duffy's Story
In the late seventies, Duffy stopped taking stills and moved onto commercials, never to return to the stills camera again. In the following years, Duffy became reclusive and refused to give interviews or talk about his time at the top as a photographer.
During the 90’s Duffy’s son Chris became frustrated that Duffy’s name was slowly slipping into obscurity and regularly tried to persuade him to do something with his remaining archive. It wasn’t until 2006 when Duffy was diagnosed with the degenerative lung disease Pulmonary Fibrosis that he finally gave Chris the green light to start putting the archive together. The process was a labour of love for the first few years. Organising, scanning and databasing what remained took many hours whilst Chris was running his video production company. In 2009 the opportunity to exhibit at Chris Beetles Gallery in Mayfair London gave Duffy the platform for his first ever exhibition and this was hailed with great critical acclaim. The exhibition ignited an incredible interest in his work and there were regular queues around the block. During the process of putting the exhibition together, the BBC commissioned a documentary on Duffy’s life and work which aired in 2010. Chris then started on the first monograph but sadly Duffy was never to see this and passed away on 31st May 2010. Since 2010 Duffy’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world. In 2013 the Victoria and Albert Museum approached the archive to request use of his Aladdin Sane image as the lead image for the ‘David Bowie is’ exhibition. This show has been the V&A’s fastest selling exhibition reaching over 2 million visitors on its world tour. Duffy’s name has now become recognised by an international audience and his name is now firmly back on the map. In 2014 Duffy’s second book was released – ‘Duffy Bowie: Five Sessions’ which covers the back story to his work with David Bowie. Written by Chris Duffy and Kevin Cann the book explores the chemistry and creation of these five iconic sets of images illustrated with interviews from people who were directly involved. For more information click here. The archive is made up of negatives, vintage prints, modern prints and contact sheets that were held by the family and other material retrieved from numerous UK and International magazines and newspapers such as Vogue, French Elle, Glamour, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph as well as those stored from commissions of glossy magazines such as Queen, Town & London Life. The process of exhibiting Duffy’s work continues and the future holds several more book projects illuminating Duffy’s eclectic and influential work.
© Trevor Leighton
‘AGGRAVATION AND DUFFY GO TOGETHER LIKE GIN AND TONIC.’
DAVID BAILEY
Latest News
This vintage image, signed by Duffy, is revealed for the 1st time to celebrate the...
THE Goodwood Revival event this weekend reminded us of this photograph held in the archive...
Chris Duffy was talking with an engaged audience yesterday about the photographs shot by his...
Today we received the sad news that pop artist Derek Boshier died yesterday. Derek worked...
This is the final weekend of the fabulous Biba Story exhibition at the Fashion &...
On International Dog Day, here’s the contact sheet with one of our most popular images...
This photo was taken at Battersea Fun Fair in 1961 for Vogue. We wish all...
Remembering the late Vince McCartney, founder of Holborn Studios and forever friend, on his 75th...
We wish Marie Helvin, model, muse, and TV personality, a very happy birthday. This photo...
Today is Mike Sarne’s birthday, and the archive recently curated our collection of Duffy-signed vintage...
It's the weekend, a time to relax and unwind! In the 1970s, Duffy took several...
This image, shot for August for the 1973 Pirelli calendar, was considered too risqué to...
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games has begun! In 1972 British sprinter David Jenkins was photographed...
Photo shot for Vogue in 1966. #duffyarchive #duffy #brianduffy #vogue #fashionphotographer #portraitphotographer #britishphotographer #swingingsixties...
Today is the 60th anniversary of this article in French Elle. The unknown model is...
Today, Labour returned to power after a 14-year hiatus. This 1966 portrait is of former...
French actress Geneviève Grad is shown modelling a blue jumpsuit for French Elle in a...
Happy Independence Day to all our American followers! 🇺🇸 This image was taken for the...
Commemorating the memory of Francis Wyndham, a renowned novelist, on what would have been his...
Wimbledon Tennis starts today! Shot for British Vogue in 1962, Jean Shrimpton is wearing Lacoste...
Today would have been Duffy's 91st birthday. Recently, we came across this photo of Duffy...
Duffy started his photography career with Vogue, and this image was published in June 1961....
French singer-songwriter, author, and actress Françoise Hardy passed away this week at the age of...
Jacques Henri Lartigue was born on this day in 1894. In 1977, as a guest...
They say that ‘behind every great man is a great woman’ and today we celebrate...
Remembering Steve Strange on his birthday for the fun he brought to the world, the...
Today marks the 45th anniversary of the release of David Bowie's Lodger album. The polaroid...
The Duffy Archive had a wonderful evening at Atlas Gallery for the launch of the...
The Duffy Archive got to meet several old friends at Photo London this year, and...
Birthday girl Paulene Stone graces the January 1964 Vogue cover—one of many covers shot by...
We wish a very Happy Birthday to Carlos Alomar! Photos by Chris Duffy at...
A three-day weekend is the perfect time to take an E-Type Jaguar classic car out...
Birthday wishes go out to the ever-youthful Joanna Lumley. Joanne was modelling the bronze sequinned...
The fairy and the elf celebrate International Dance Day! #Duffy #BrianDuffy #DuffyArchive #internationaldanceday #dance...
Today is Denim Day! This endearing photograph captures Jeanette Harding in the South of France...
Celebrate UK Record Store Day with a special offer on Bowie albums photographed by Duffy:...
On this day in 1973, the iconic Aladdin Sane album was released. Today we celebrate...
Published in French Elle #955 on this date in 1964, this photograph was taken at...
We wish all our followers a very Happy Easter! #Duffy #BrianDuffy #DuffyArchive #easter...
The Biba Story is now open at the Fashion & Textile Museum in London until...
Last night was the launch of The Biba Story, which opens at the Fashion &...
English model and photographer Pattie Boyd is celebrating her 80th birthday today. Until March 22nd,...
Who needs an excuse to enjoy a Guinness this St. Patrick's Day weekend? The photo...
Happy Birthday Michael Caine! This portrait was taken in the same year that the film...
On this day in 1976, the Sunday Times magazine published behind-the-scenes photographs from the set...
Happy Mother’s Day! #DuffyArchive #BrianDuffy #Duffy#britishphotographer #photooftheday #happymothersday #MothersDay #MotheringSunday #mother#love #baby #motherslove...
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the following women: Nina Simone - US Singer...
On World Book Day, visit our online store to purchase Duffy Archive embossed and signed...
On this day in 1978, French Elle magazine published an article on coats titled 'L'indispensable'...