Fergus Greer

Last updated
Fergus Greer
Fergus Greer.jpg
London, 2012
Born (1961-05-08) 8 May 1961 (age 63)
Aldershot, England
Education
Occupation(s)Photographer, Psychotherapist
Years active1987–present
SpouseKatya Caminda m.1996-div.2010
ChildrenLudmilla, Balthazar

Fergus James MacGregor Greer (born 8 May 1961) is a British/Irish internationally renowned photographer and psychotherapist, known for his strong visual and emotional resonance in his large body of work. He served as an officer in the Irish Guards before leaving to pursue a successful career in photography and, later, in psychotherapy. His work has been featured in numerous publications and exhibitions and held in many public and private collections, including 65 works at the National Portrait Gallery, London. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Greer was born on 8 May 1961, in Aldershot, Hampshire. His family moved to Ireland in 1970 but returned to the UK in 1976. After leaving school, he went on to study at St Martin's School of Art, London. He then attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst passing out in 1983. [2]

Career

The Irish Guards

After Sandhurst, Greer was commissioned as an officer into the Irish Guards, he served for 4 years. [2]

Photography

After leaving the army in 1987, Greer began his career in photography as a studio assistant to a number of photographers, including Richard Avedon, [3] soon becoming Terence Donovan's full-time studio manager and assistant. [4] In 1988 he met the performance artist and designer Leigh Bowery, [3] with whom he established a fruitful working collaboration that ended when Bowery died in 1994. [5] [6] [7] One of Greer's images of Leigh Bowery was listed in The Guardian in 2023 as one of the 40 most outrageous photographs to have changed fashion. [8] During this time Greer was also developing his freelance photographic career with commercial [9] and private commissions and with a variety of magazines. He regularly shot covers for The Sunday Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Fortune, The New York Times Magazine, and The New Yorker. [10]

Greer relocated to Los Angeles in 1997 to expand his international reputation and career as a portrait photographer, his list of sitters encompasses royalty, famous artists, actors, musicians, writers, politicians, businesspeople, academics, and athletes. [11] His work has been recognised with 2 solo exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery, London in 2001 [12] and 2006. [13] [2] [14] [15] The Gallery holds 65 of Greer's portraits, including:-


In 1999, Greer was appointed as the official war artist for the Kosovo campaign and was embedded with his old regiment, the Irish Guards. He published his work in 2001 in the book, Kosovo, [2] with a foreword by General Mike Jackson, who had led the campaign. One of the photographs from the book is now in the collection at the National Portrait Gallery, London. [44]

In December 2006, when Greer came back to live in the UK, he was commissioned by Clarence House to return to Sandhurst to photograph Prince William and Prince Harry. The informal double portrait was taken in the Commandant's House and was supposed to be used at the Concert for Diana in 2007; however, it was never published. The photograph was seen publicly for the first time in 2011 at an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London. [45] Vanity Fair has suggested that this portrait was the start of "a new dress-code option: royal casual." [46] The Daily Mail commented that the Princes had been photographed together before but had "rarely seemed so at ease. [47]

The interest in the "most remarkable portfolio of work" [3] with Leigh Bowery has been enduring. In 2002, Greer published a collection of photos in the book, Leigh Bowery Looks. [48] [49] [50] [51] Greer's photos of Bowery have featured in numerous exhibitions over the years. In 2019 the Michael Hoppen Gallery in London hosted the exhibition "Fergus Greer, Leigh Bowery, Looks". One review of the exhibition says, "Half a century later, London feels more grey and colorless than ever. We'll never see Bowery again in the flesh: his true medium. But Greer's vital document lives on: a blueprint for a new generation of club kids and freaks tracing their evolution." [52] [53] [54] The online art magazine, Dazed Digital, has said, "Greer photographed Bowery in what have become some of the most richly classic and culturally important portraits of the artist to date. The permanent relevance of Greer's images is found in the way they have culturally preserved the icon." [55]

Greer's work will be extensively used in the major retrospective exhibition "Leigh Bowery!" at the Tate Modern, opening in February 2025 [56] [57]

Psychotherapy

As a continuation of his interest in the human condition and his search for the "truth" while making photographic portraits, [3] Greer trained as an adult psychotherapist at The Westminster Pastoral Foundation between 2010 and 2015. From 2012 he has worked as a psychotherapist for the NHS, firstly in Hackney and then at Guys Hospital, London.

In 2015, Greer co-founded The Courtyard Garden Clinic and The Ebury Practice in London, from where he practices privately. [58] [59]

Exhibitions

Over the years Greer has contributed photographs to many exhibitions around the world, including:-

Books

Greer is the author of several books, including;

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfgang Tillmans</span> German photographer (born 1968)

Wolfgang Tillmans is a German photographer. His diverse body of work is distinguished by observation of his surroundings and an ongoing investigation of the photographic medium’s foundations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nan Goldin</span> American photographer and activist

Nancy Goldin is an American photographer and activist. Her work explores in snapshot-style the emotions of the individual, in intimate relationships, and the bohemian LGBT subcultural communities, especially dealing with the devastating HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Her most notable work is The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. In the slideshow and monograph (1986) Goldin portrayed her chosen "family", meanwhile documenting the post-punk and gay subcultures. She is a founding member of the advocacy group P.A.I.N. against the opioid epidemic. She lives and works in New York City.

Bill Brandt was a British photographer and photojournalist. Born in Germany, Brandt moved to England, where he became known for his images of British society for such magazines as Lilliput and Picture Post; later he made distorted nudes, portraits of famous artists and landscapes. He is widely considered to be one of the most important British photographers of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leigh Bowery</span> Australian artist and fashion designer (1961–1994)

Leigh Bowery was an Australian performance artist, club promoter, and fashion designer. Bowery was known for his costumes, makeup and live performances considered as conceptual, flamboyant, outlandish, and sometimes controversial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juergen Teller</span> German fine-art and fashion photographer (born 1964)

Juergen Teller is a German fine-art and fashion photographer. He was awarded the Citibank Prize for Photography in 2003 and received the Special Presentation International Center of Photography Infinity Award in 2018.

Roger Mayne was an English photographer, best known for his documentation of the children of Southam Street, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Knight (photographer)</span> British photographer

Nicholas David Gordon Knight is a British fashion photographer and founder and director of SHOWstudio.com. He is an honorary professor at University of the Arts London and was awarded an honorary Ph.D. by the same university. He has produced books of his work including retrospectives Nicknight (1994) and Nick Knight (2009). In 2016, Knight's 1992 campaign photograph for fashion brand Jil Sander was sold by Phillips auction house at the record-breaking price of HKD 2,360,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekow Eshun</span> British writer (born 1968)

Ekow Eshun is a British writer, journalist, broadcaster, and curator.

Guy Bourdin, was a French artist and fashion photographer known for his highly stylized and provocative images. From 1955, Bourdin worked mostly with Vogue as well as other publications including Harper's Bazaar. He shot ad campaigns for Chanel, Charles Jourdan, Pentax and Bloomingdale's.

Alexander Mark "A. M." Hanson is an English artist and photographer. He is based in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Walker</span> British fashion photographer

Timothy Walker HonFRPS is a British fashion photographer who regularly works for Vogue, W and Love magazines. He is based in London.

Johnny Rozsa is a New York-based photographer, specializing in fashion, portrait, and celebrity photography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garry Gross</span> American photographer (1937–2010)

Garry Gross was an American fashion photographer who went on to specialize in dog portraiture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Ridgers</span> British photographer

Derek Ridgers is a British photographer known for his photography of music, film and club/street culture. He has photographed people including James Brown, the Spice Girls, Clint Eastwood and Johnny Depp, as well as politicians, gangsters, artists, writers, fashion designers and sports people. Ridgers has also photographed British social scenes such as skinhead, fetish, club, punk and New Romantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zanele Muholi</span> South African artist and visual activist (born 1972)

Zanele Muholi is a South African artist and visual activist working in photography, video, and installation. Muholi's work focuses on race, gender and sexuality with a body of work that dates back to the early 2000s, documenting and celebrating the lives of South Africa's Black Lesbian, Gay, transgender, and intersex communities. Muholi is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, explaining that "I'm just human".

Susan Bright is a British writer and curator of photography, specializing in how photography is made, disseminated and interpreted. She has curated exhibitions internationally at institutions including: Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery in London and the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago amongst others.

Charlotte Cotton is a curator of and writer about photography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitzrovia Chapel</span> Church building in London

The Fitzrovia Chapel is located at Pearson Square, in London's W1 area, standing in the centre of the Fitzroy Place development, bordered by Mortimer Street, Cleveland Street, Nassau Street and Riding House Street in Fitzrovia, Westminster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Learoyd</span> British artist and photographer

Richard Learoyd is a British contemporary artist and photographer.

Daniel Lismore is a British fabric sculptor, designer, and campaigner. Described by Vogue Magazine as "England's Most Eccentric Dresser" he is best known for his flamboyant dress sense serving a form of statement, sculpture and even armour.

References

  1. ↑ "Fergus Greer: Photographer", National Portrait Gallery, London, Retrieved 20 January 2025
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fergus Greer Photographer in Focus at NPG in London, Art Daily, New York, 26 August 2006
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Shooting Leigh Bowery, Civilian Magazine, New York, 7 October 2024, 7 October 2024
  4. ↑ "Photographs of Leigh Bowery Wearing His Most Daring Designs", AnOther Magazine, London, 6 March 2019
  5. ↑ "Leigh Bowery Celebrated In Photos By Fergus Greer", Artlyst, London, 12 March 2019
  6. ↑ "Photographer Fergus Greer's best shot", The Guardian, London, 20 March 2011
  7. ↑ "Tights in art: why nylons are fetish and fantasy gold", The Guardian, London, 27 September 2019
  8. ↑ "40 outrageous photos that changed fashion", The Guardian, London, 18 November 2023
  9. ↑ "Sporting Lines of Alfa Romeo's UK Atheletes Help Raise Money for Heart Research UK", Stellantis, London, 2011
  10. ↑ "Fergus Greer: Directors",National Portrait Gallery, London, 2 July 2001
  11. ↑ "Fergus Greer", Widewalls, London, 7 September 2013
  12. ↑ "Fergus Greer: Directors", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2 July 2001
  13. 1 2 "Fergus Greer: Photographer in Focus", National Portrait Gallery, London, 27 February 2006
  14. ↑ "Hit or Hype", The Times, London, 1 April 2006
  15. 1 2 "Top five galleries nationwide", The Times, London, 18 March 2006
  16. ↑ "William, Prince of Wales; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2006
  17. ↑ "Margaret Thatcher", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2006
  18. ↑ "Margaret Thatcher; Fergus Greer" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1995
  19. ↑ "David Cameron" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2008
  20. ↑ "Gordon Brown", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2007
  21. ↑ "Kevin Keegan" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1993
  22. ↑ "Simon Cowell" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2003
  23. ↑ "Malcolm McDowell National Portrait Gallery, London, 2001
  24. ↑ "Annie Leibovitz", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2006
  25. ↑ "The Sex Pistols" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1990
  26. ↑ "Bill Gates" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1992
  27. ↑ "Quentin Crisp" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2006
  28. ↑ "David Bowie" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2001
  29. ↑ "Ray Winstone", National Portrait Gallery, London, 1998
  30. ↑ "Michael Caine" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2003
  31. ↑ "Robbie Williams",National Portrait Gallery, London, 2005
  32. ↑ "John Peel", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2000
  33. ↑ "Thom Gunn" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2000
  34. ↑ "Mike Leigh" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1998
  35. ↑ "Julie Christie" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2000
  36. ↑ "Tom Stoppard" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1999
  37. ↑ "Simon Sebag Montefiore" National Portrait Gallery, London, 2004
  38. ↑ "Vivienne Westwood", National Portrait Gallery, London, 1990
  39. ↑ "Brian Cox", National Portrait Gallery, London, 1997
  40. ↑ "Steve Coogan" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1991
  41. ↑ "Hugh Grant", National Portrait Gallery, London, 1992
  42. ↑ "Caroline Aherne" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1997
  43. ↑ "Damien Hirst" National Portrait Gallery, London, 1992
  44. ↑ "Fergus Greer with thirteen soldiers from the fourth company, first battalion of the Irish Guards", National Portrait Gallery, London, Retrieved 13 January 2025
  45. ↑ "New Portrait of the Princes William and Harry at National Portrait Gallery in London", Art Daily, New York, 4 February 2011
  46. ↑ "Royal Wedding Watch", Vanity Fair, New York, 7 February 2011
  47. ↑ "Brothers at ease: New photo shows casual Princes William and Harry at their most informal", The Daily Mail, London, 4 February 2011
  48. 1 2 "Leigh Bowery Looks", Violette Editions, London, 2002
  49. 1 2 "Leigh Bowery Looks: Photographs by Fergus Greer 1988–1994", Goodreads, London, 13 June 2005
  50. 1 2 "Costume Drama", The Free Library, New York, 29 October 2002
  51. 1 2 "Leigh Bowery: The Confluence of Sensation, Shock, and Taboo in Art", Zarastro Art, Istanbul, Retrieved 15 January 2025
  52. 1 2 "How Leigh Bowery Defined the Look of Gay Culture in 1980s London", Hyperallergic, London, 9 April 2019
  53. 1 2 "Over 15 photographs of Leigh Bowery are being showcased at Michael Hoppen Galllery", Art Daily, New York, 12 March 2019
  54. ↑ "Fergus Greer",Eduard Planting Gallery, Amsterdam, Retrieved 12 January 2025
  55. ↑ "The rare stories behind classic portraits of luminary Leigh Bowery", Dazed Digital, London, 8 March 2019
  56. ↑ "Leigh Bowery!", Tate Modern, London, 27th February 2025
  57. ↑ "34 Of The Best Art Exhibitions In London To See In 2025", Secret London, London, 11 January 2025
  58. ↑ "Fergus Greer", UK Council for Psychotherapy, London, Retrieved 13 January 2025
  59. ↑ "Fergus Greer" Counselling Directory, London, Retrieved 13 January 2025
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fergus Greer, Photography Now, London, Retrieved 25 January 2025
  61. ↑ "Art Market" The Independent, London, 10 September 1994
  62. ↑ "Bongo Brando to go go", The Independent, London, 30 August 1997
  63. ↑ "Addressing the Century: 100 years of Art and Fashion", Arts and Culture, London, 12 October 1998
  64. ↑ "Look at Me: Leigh Bowery" RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, 5 February 1999
  65. ↑ "Fergus Greer: Directors", National Portrait Gallery, London, 2 July 2001
  66. ↑ "Leigh Bowery, ideal husband", The Guardian, London, 21 July 2002
  67. ↑ "Two exhibitions", Undo.net, London,18 July 2002
  68. ↑ "Take a Bowery", Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 17 December 2003
  69. ↑ "Leigh Bowery-Useless Man", Like You, New York, 26 February 2005
  70. ↑ "Always a Little Further', Universe in Universe, Venice, 12 June 2005
  71. ↑ ""Taboo". Le provocazioni di Leigh Bowery", Marx21, Rome, 15 April 2006
  72. ↑ "The Secret Public" Artmap, Berlin, 7 October 2006
  73. ↑ "Into Me / Out Of Me", KW Institute, Berlin, 26 November 2006
  74. ↑ "GPF Exhibition: Fergus Greer", GSY.Arts, Guernsey, 25 September 2007
  75. ↑ "Portrait of Alan Turing proves popular draw", Art Daily, New York, 12 September 2009
  76. ↑ "Who are you calling a gay icon?" The Times, London, 27 March 2009
  77. ↑ "Exhibition: 'Gay Icons' at the National Portrait Gallery, London", Art Blart, Melbourne, 14 July 2009
  78. ↑ "Close-up: Portraits of contemporary actresses star in new show" The Independent, London, 11 October 2011
  79. ↑ "Model Behaviour", The Standard, London, 11 April 2012
  80. ↑ "Taboo or not taboo" NGV, Victoria, 2 June 2014
  81. ↑ "The Unflinching Gaze", Art Blart, Melbourne, 26 November 2017
  82. ↑ "Airpad New York", Michael Hoppen Gallery, London, 4 April 2019
  83. ↑ "The exhibition that uses women's hosiery to tell a story", The Independent, London, 10 October 2019
  84. ↑ "Less Is a Bore: Maximalist Art & Design", ICA, Boston, 26 June 2019
  85. ↑ "In Pictures: The Many Looks of Leigh Bowery", Frieze, London, 12 March 2019
  86. ↑ "Style Savant Leigh Bowery Returns in New London Photo Show", Newsweek, New York, 9 March 2019
  87. ↑ "Retrospective for performance artist, arch provocateur and 80s club kid Leigh Bowery hits London", The Standard, London, 24 January 2022
  88. ↑ "Centre d'Art Contemporain Genève presents Chrysalis: The Butterfly Dream", DAN, London, 13 February 2023
  89. ↑ "The lore of Leigh Bowery", The Face, London, 3 December 2024
  90. ↑ "Paris Photo 2024", Michael Hoppen Gallery, 7 November 2024
  91. ↑ "The best art exhibitions of 2025, picked by our expert" The Daily Telegraph, London, 3 January 2025
  92. ↑ "Leigh Bowery Takes Over London", ARTnews, London, 1 January 2025
  93. ↑ "Leigh Bowery!", Tate Modern, London, 11 November 2024
  94. ↑ "Leigh Bowery, Tate Modern", Artlyst, London, 17 December 2024
  95. ↑ "6 Museum Exhibitions we are looking forward to in 2025", Fad Magazine, London, 6 January 2025
  96. ↑ "The must-see exhibitions in 2025: from Leigh Bowery in London to Michaelina Wautier in Vienna", The Art Newspaper, London, 19 December 2024
  97. ↑ "Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025: Tate Modern's cultural shapeshifting takes the art prize" Wallpaper*, London, 13 January 2025
  98. ↑ "Kosovo: The Balkans War", Abe Books, Munich, 2001
  99. ↑ "Portraits: The World's Top Photographers", Goodreads, London, 13 October 2004
  100. ↑ "Portraits: The World's Top Photographers and the Stories Behind Their Greatest Images", Lens Culture, London, Retrieved 14 January 2025
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.