TONY VACCARO 100!

On December 20, 2022, the American photographer Tony Vaccaro, who lives in Long Island, New York, will turn 100. This occasion provides an opportunity to present his multifaceted photographic work, which encompasses diverse themes and genres in both black and white and color photography from a historical and social perspective, at the Museum of Photography Braunschweig.

During World War II, Tony Vaccaro arrived in Europe at the Normandy Front in late 1944 with the 83rd Infantry Division of the US Army. In the final months of the war, he documented his experiences with his Argus C-3 camera in Belgium, France, and Germany. The horrors of war are often captured in symbolic images, making his work a unique contribution within the genre of war photography.
Following World War II, Tony Vaccaro remained in Frankfurt until 1949, documenting postwar reconstruction in Germany and Europe for the magazine 'Stars and Stripes', an American military newspaper, and its weekend supplement 'Weekend'. In July 1949, he returned to America by ship and in the following years became an important visual chronicler of a changing society in New York.

Since 1950, both the art and cultural scene and political public life have been subjects for the photographer. Portraits of artists, architects, actors, and designers are among the important themes of Tony Vaccaro's work, as are portraits of politicians such as John F. Kennedy and the famous boxer Muhammad Ali. The image of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on horseback is also a highlight.
During the traditional Trooping the Colour parade in June 1971, the Queen and her love of horseback riding, as well as her respect for tradition, were commemorated. Tony Vaccaro's photographs and reportage appeared in magazines such as Look, LIFE, Newsweek, and Flair. Fashion photography also occasionally came into focus for Vaccaro, with his collaboration with the Finnish model Anja Kyllikki Lehto (1939–2013), whom he met in New York in 1963 and who became his wife, resulting in some particularly striking images. These works appear more like artistic performances than fashion shoots, appearing scenic and imaginative. This is especially true of...
for the photo series about the independent fashion house Marimekko, which was created in 1965 near Helsinki, Finland. It appeared in 'LIFE' magazine on June 24, 1966. Tony and Anja Vaccaro had two sons and lived in Rome for several years before separating in 1979. Rome had been Tony Vaccaro's summer destination since the 1950s.

Program

Opening
Friday, September 30, 2022, 7 p.m.
Welcome:
Regine von Monkiewitsch, Chairwoman of the Museum of Photography Braunschweig
Dr. Tabea Golgath, Lower Saxony Foundation
Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, Director of the Museum of Photography Braunschweig and curator of the exhibition

Artist talk via Zoom
Samstag 01.10.2022
with Tony Vaccaro and curator Barbara Hofmann-Johnson
Information on access after successful registration

Regular meeting: Tony Vaccaro artist portraits and fashion photography
Tuesday, 25.10.2022, 18:30 a.m.
with Finn Schütt, Research Associate, Museum of Photography Braunschweig
Free entry for members, €5 for guests

Happy Thursday
Thursday, August 03.11.2022, 13, 20 p.m. - XNUMX p.m
Curator-led tour at 18 pm with Barbara Hofmann-Johnson
Eintritt frei

Regular meeting: ‘Entering Germany’ – Tony Vaccaro and war reporting as a photographic genre
Tuesday, 22.11.2022, 18:30 a.m.
with Franziska Habelt, Research Associate, Museum of Photography Braunschweig
Free entry for members, guests: €5

Happy Thursday
Thursday, August 01.12.2022, 13, 20 p.m. - XNUMX p.m
Public guided tour at 18 pm
Eintritt frei

Closing event and Advent punch 
Sunday, June 04.12.2022, 16, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m
Exhibition tour with curator Barbara Hofmann-Johnson