Roberto Rabanne

“The notions of sex, celebrity, power and money are all ideas I like to explore”.

The images of photographer Roberto Rabanne have captured the energy, complexity and beauty in music, fashion and art for more than five decades.

Roberto Rabanne began his career in New York as the influences of the counter culture were being felt on music, fashion, art and politics.

In 1966 Rabanne and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead became friends. The legendary musician gave him priority access and allowed Rabanne to do many photos of him and the band. He was with the band when they were recording their first album in 1967.

Shooting the Grateful Dead and other great rock bands of the era quickly earned him a reputation as a master at capturing the exhilaration of live performances on film, as well as the private off stage moments.

“I have a simple philosophy about photography, the image has to be powerful” explains Rabanne. “I find that happens when you capture the subject engaging in the non-defensive, unguarded essence that is truly ‘them.’ The picture always has to tell a story, but in doing so, you can break all the rules.”

He shot many of the great bands of the 1960’s including the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Cream, Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and many others.

His iconic photographs of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley attest to that fact.

Outspokenness, veracity, defiance and a willingness to seek out and walk the edge in life and in art, these are the themes that have shaped Rabanne’s creative sensibilities during his long and remarkable career he reached the pinnacles of the music and fashion worlds.

{ More about Roberto’s work at the World Trade Gallery and on Roberto’s website. }