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Greg Gorman
Greg Gorman
Greg Gorman
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Greg Gorman is an American photographer.

Education

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Gorman attended the University of Kansas with a major in Photojournalism and completed his studies at the University of Southern California, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Cinematography.

Career

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Photography

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Black and white studio portrait of Greg Gorman.
Greg Gorman, 2011 ©Andreas Bitesnich

Over the years, Gorman has been acknowledged for his contribution to the world of photography, from the prestigious Lucie Awards for Portraiture and, more recently, by the Professional Photographers of America where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Portraiture.  His charitable works by such organizations as The Elton John Aids Foundation, The Oscar de La Hoya Foundation and Paws LA to name but a few have also been critically recognized.

Besides traveling the world for specialized photographic projects, Gorman continues to work on compilations of his imagery and exhibits his work in galleries and museums around the globe. It's Not About Me - A Retrospective marks Gorman’s twelfth monograph published in 2019. He has just completed this 13th work, ‘Homage,’ which focusses on the influence of African tribal art on European and American culture, and represents his first foray into the fine art world with collaborator and longtime friend, Gary Johns.

Gorman is a public speaker in the photographic community and shares his expertise in hands-on photographic workshops worldwide.

Winemaking

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In addition to his photography career, Gorman made wine under his own label, GKG Cellars, in collaboration with Dave Phinney of Orin Swift Cellars of the Napa Valley from 2006-2018. It received high scores from both Robert Parker and the Wine Spectator.

Personal life

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Gorman resides with his two French Bulldogs, Gladys and Cyrill, in Los Angeles, California.

Publications

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Books

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  • Greg Gorman – Volume I CPC Publishing (1989) ISBN 978-1-87-168100-0
  • Greg Gorman – Volume II, Treville Press (1992) ISBN 978-4-84-570778-2
  • Inside Life, Rizzoli (1997) (foreword by John Waters) ISBN 978-0-8478-1998-0
  • Perspectives, Electa Mondadori (1999) ISBN 978-3-89-790012-7
  • Perspectives, Arnoldsche Art Publishers (2000) ISBN 978-3-89-790012-7
  • As I see It, Powerhouse Books (2001) ISBN 978-1-57687-087-7
  • Just Between Us, Arena Editions (2002) ISBN 978-1-892041-80-7
  • Odes to Pindar, 21st Editions (2007) ISBN 1-892733-36-6
  • In Their Youth, Damiani (2009) ISBN 978-88-6208-097-2
  • Framed, Damiani (2012) In Their Youth, Damiani (2009) ISBN 978-8-86-208203-7
  • Outside the Studio, Damiani (2014) ISBN 978-8-86-208391-1
  • Private Works, Verona Libri (2016) ISBN 978-0-69-277167-9
  • It's Not About Me, teNeues (2019) ISBN 978-3-96-171275-5
  • Homage: A Tribute to Tribal Artists, Philo Fine Arts (2022) ISBN 978-8-86-208391-1

Exhibitions

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  • 2021:  Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angeles
  • 2021: Immagis Galerie, Munich, Germany
  • 2021: Galerie Paffreath, Dusseldorf, Germany
  • 2023: Hohmann Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA.
  • 2023: XPOSURE 2023, Sharjah, UAE

UPCOMING

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  • 2023: Homage to African Tribal Artists, St. Petri, Zü Lübeck, Germany

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Greg Gorman

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from Grokipedia
Greg Gorman (born 1949) is an American photographer best known for his stark, high-contrast black-and-white portraits of celebrities and cultural icons from the worlds of entertainment, music, art, and sports. Born in , Gorman began his photographic career in 1968 by capturing images of during a concert, marking the start of his focus on personality-driven portraiture. He studied at the before earning a in cinematography from the . Over four decades, Gorman has photographed prominent figures including , , , , and , emphasizing raw honesty and dramatic lighting in his work. In addition to editorial and fine art photography, Gorman served as a special stills photographer on major films such as Tootsie (1982), The Big Chill (1983), Scarface (1983), and Grease 2 (1982). His contributions to the field have earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award in Portraiture from the Professional Photographers of America and the Lucie Award for Achievement in Portraiture from the Lucie Foundation. Gorman has also extended his creative pursuits into winemaking, co-founding the GKG Cellars label in 2006 with winemaker Dave Phinney, producing limited-edition wines inspired by his artistic ethos. A prolific author, Gorman has published twelve monographs showcasing his portraiture and nudes, including Volume I (1989), Volume II (1992), Perspectives (1995), In Their Youth (2009), and his most recent retrospective, It's Not About Me (2020), which features over 400 images from his career. Beyond his professional endeavors, he supports charitable organizations such as the , the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation, and PAWS LA, while conducting hands-on photography workshops worldwide. Gorman resides in , , where he enjoys and shares his home with two French Bulldogs.

Early Life and Education

Early Life

Greg Gorman was born in 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri. He spent his childhood in the city, growing up on 65th Street on the cusp of the affluent Mission Hills neighborhood, across from Indian Hills Junior High School. As a young man in Kansas City, Gorman enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing with friends, which later played a role in his introduction to photography. His initial exposure to the medium came in 1968, when he borrowed a Honeywell Pentax camera from his fishing buddy, Buzz Gher, to photograph Jimi Hendrix during a concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The following day, after processing the images in Gher's darkroom, Gorman experienced a profound moment upon seeing the developed prints, igniting his passion for photography and visual storytelling. These early experiences in Kansas City shaped Gorman's interest in capturing moments through a lens, which he began pursuing through formal studies at the starting in 1967.

Education

Greg Gorman began his formal education in photography at the , where he enrolled in 1967 and majored in until 1969. His coursework there emphasized storytelling through images and capturing candid moments of people, laying the groundwork for his interest in portraiture, which had been initially sparked by photographing the concert in Kansas City in 1968. This training honed his early technical skills in composition and on-the-fly shooting, influenced by the photojournalism program's focus on documentary-style work. In 1970, Gorman transferred to the (USC) to pursue advanced studies, earning a () in in 1972. The cinematography program at USC provided rigorous instruction in lighting techniques, including the use of controlled illumination to enhance depth and mood, as well as advanced composition principles that emphasized framing and visual narrative. These elements were pivotal in refining his portraiture skills, allowing him to experiment with dramatic lighting setups that would become hallmarks of his style. Gorman's educational path effectively bridged the observational rigor of with the artistic and technical demands of and commercial photography. At KU, he developed a foundation in authentic, unposed imagery, while USC's cinematography training introduced him to the precision of studio lighting and processes, enabling a seamless transition to professional portrait work that blended journalistic candor with cinematic polish. This dual influence equipped him with versatile skills for capturing both editorial and subjects.

Career

Photography

Greg Gorman relocated to Los Angeles in the 1970s following his completion of an MFA in at the , marking the beginning of his entry into celebrity ure. His early career gained momentum with a of in 1972, which opened doors to assignments capturing prominent figures in entertainment, art, and sports. Gorman's signature style features stark, honest black-and-white portraits that emphasize the interplay of light and shadow to reveal the subject's essence and create a sense of intrigue through dynamic tonal range. Over five decades, he has photographed key subjects including , , , and athletes such as , often highlighting their vulnerability and charisma in intimate settings. This approach stems from his background in at the and studies. His career evolved from magazine assignments for publications like Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair in the 1970s and 1980s to broader commercial work, including advertising campaigns for brands such as l.a.Eyeworks, and eventually to . Gorman also served as a special stills photographer on major films including (1982), The Big Chill (1983), Scarface (1983), and (1982), and worked as art director for Inter-Ocean Films from 1974 to 1977. Throughout his professional trajectory, Gorman has undertaken charitable photography projects tied to his expertise, contributing portraits to support various causes without seeking personal recognition. Gorman continues to lead hands-on workshops worldwide.

Winemaking

In 2006, photographer Greg Gorman launched GKG Cellars in Napa Valley, , in collaboration with Dave Phinney of Orin Swift Cellars, sourcing fruit primarily from the historic Lewelling Vineyards in St. Helena. The label focused on producing premium red blends, centered on with inclusions of varietals like , , and , yielding annual vintages from 2006 through 2018. Gorman's wines garnered critical acclaim, earning high scores from influential critics and publications. For instance, the 2014 blend received 94 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for its rich, layered profile and 93 points from for its vibrant fruit and lively finish. Similarly, the 2015 vintage scored 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck, highlighting its hedonistic balance of Cabernet and other reds, while earlier releases like the 2012 were praised in for their supple structure and dark fruit notes. These accolades underscored the wines' quality, with bottles often retailing around $135 and appealing to collectors for their depth and elegance. Gorman was deeply involved in the winemaking process, contributing his to final blending sessions alongside Phinney and participating in vineyard oversight at Lewelling to ensure optimal fruit quality. His branding approach drew from his photographic background, creating labels that reflected his artistic aesthetic. In 2018, GKG Cellars ceased production, with Gorman reflecting on the venture as a fulfilling creative outlet that extended his passion for artistry into enology, though challenging market dynamics for mid-priced premium wines prompted the closure.

Works

Publications

Greg Gorman's first , Greg Gorman: Volume I, was published in 1989 by CPC Publishing, featuring a collection of his early portraits and establishing his reputation for stark, high-contrast black-and-white of Hollywood icons. His second , Greg Gorman: Volume II, was published in 1992 by Treville Press, continuing his exploration of and nude portraiture with an emphasis on dramatic lighting and intimate compositions. In the , Gorman released Inside Life in 1996 through Rizzoli, a 371-page volume spanning three decades of his work, from rock concert images to portraits of prominent figures in and music, emphasizing his evolution in capturing intimate celebrity moments. His 2000 publication, Perspectives, issued by Electa, focused on a curated selection of star portraits and nude studies, highlighting Gorman's signature use of dramatic lighting to reveal personality and form in contexts. In 2005, Gorman published In Their Youth: British Photography 1957-1964 through 17-Hip, a collection exploring early British photography influences on his style. The 2012 collaborative book Framed: Greg Gorman for L.A. Eyeworks, published by Damiani, documented his advertising campaign portraits for the eyewear brand, blending commercial work with artistic nude and imagery across 192 pages. It's Not About Me: A Retrospective, Gorman's twelfth released in 2020 by teNeues, offered behind-the-scenes insights into his career, including personal reflections on portrait sessions with luminaries like and , underscoring the collaborative essence of his process over technical aspects. In 2022, Gorman collaborated with artist on Homage: A Tribute to Tribal Artists, published by Phil Fine Arts in a limited edition, which integrated his portraiture style with influences from African , drawing from Gorman's personal collection to explore cultural intersections in modern fine art photography.

Exhibitions

Greg Gorman's exhibitions began in the early 1980s, showcasing his emerging portraiture and at prominent galleries. His debut solo exhibition, "Greg Gorman: Photographs," was held at Fahey/Klein Gallery from October 6 to November 12, 1983, featuring early works that highlighted his signature stark lighting and intimate compositions. Other notable early shows included a group exhibition at Jennifer Dumas Gallery's "Modern Masters Show" in 1983 and a participation in G. Ray Hawkins Gallery's "Working in LA Part One" in 1984, establishing his presence in the contemporary scene. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Gorman mounted numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally, often centered on themes of portraiture, nudes, and human connection. Key solo shows included "New Nudes" at Govinda Gallery in , in 1989, and "Inside " series exhibitions from 1996 to 2000 at venues such as Fahey/Klein Gallery in , Kunsthaus in , and The Photographers' Gallery in , exploring personal introspection through black-and-white imagery. His 2002 exhibition "Just Between Us" at Fahey/Klein Gallery delved into intimate nudes, reflecting his ongoing interest in and form. A , "Greg Gorman: ," was presented at Fahey/Klein in 2005, surveying three decades of his career with iconic celebrity portraits. In 2021, Gorman revisited retrospective themes with the solo exhibition "It's Not About Me" at Fahey/Klein Gallery in from March 25 to May 1, accompanied by a publication of the same name and focusing on portraits beyond glamour. The show toured internationally that year, appearing at Immagis Fine Art Photography Gallery in from September 30 to December 2021, and at The Photogallery Paffrath in , emphasizing his evolution from Hollywood icons to broader human subjects. More recent exhibitions in 2023 highlighted Gorman's fascination with influences. The solo show "HOMAGE: A Tribute to Tribal Artists," co-curated with artist , was displayed at Christine Hohmann Fine Art in , featuring photographic portraits of African sculptures that blended Gorman's portrait style with cultural reverence. Later that year, the same exhibition appeared at XPOSURE International Festival in Sharjah, UAE, from February 2023, where Gorman led tours and lectures on his technique for capturing cultural essences. An extension of this theme occurred in July 2023 at St. Petri Church in , , presenting large-scale prints of tribal-inspired works in a historic architectural setting to underscore cross-cultural artistic dialogue. As of 2025, Gorman's exhibition activities include group participation in "Face the Music: The Legacy of Music Photography" at Fahey/Klein Gallery from July 25 to September 7, 2024, showcasing his contributions to music portraiture alongside peers. While no major solo exhibitions are confirmed for late 2025, his workshops, such as the held at Blenheim Park in from October 19–24, 2025, often incorporated exhibit-like displays of participant and archival works to foster thematic discussions on portraiture and nudes.

Personal Life and Recognition

Personal Life

Greg Gorman has maintained a long-term residence in , , since moving there in 1970 to complete his education at the . He continues to live in the city, where he shares his home with his two French Bulldogs, Gladys and Cyrill, and divides his time with a residence in . In his personal time, Gorman enjoys hobbies that provide respite from his creative endeavors, including , which he pursues whenever possible. His past involvement in fostered a deeper personal appreciation for wine, which he continues to explore as a interest. Additionally, travel serves as a source of inspiration for him, with journeys across the and the enriching his downtime. Gorman's lifestyle reflects a deliberate balance between his artistic passions and moments of personal relaxation, emphasizing the importance of non-professional pursuits in sustaining his well-being.

Philanthropy and Awards

Greg Gorman has actively supported numerous charitable causes, leveraging his to contribute through donations of portraits and participation in fundraising events. His involvement with the includes attending high-profile gatherings such as the annual Viewing Party, where proceeds aid prevention and treatment efforts. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the organization, which intersect with his portraiture by featuring celebrity images in auctions to raise funds. Gorman extends his philanthropy to and initiatives, notably supporting Paws LA through donated photographic works that benefit rescue and adoption programs. Similarly, his engagement with the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation involves providing portraits for events aimed at empowering underprivileged via and sports. Additional causes include the , PETA, Focus on AIDS, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where his donated images have been auctioned to generate proceeds for health and advocacy programs. These efforts highlight how Gorman's photography serves as a tool for , blending artistic output with social impact. In recognition of his professional achievements and charitable commitments, Gorman received the Lucie Award for Achievement in Portraiture in 2012 from the Lucie Foundation, honoring his four-decade career in capturing influential figures. The following year, in 2013, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Portraiture by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), acknowledging his enduring influence on the field. Further honors include commendations from organizations like the and PETA for integrating philanthropy into his practice, though no major new awards have been reported as of November 2025.

References

  1. https://www.gormanphotography.com/bio
  2. https://www.melbye-konan.com/artists/48-greg-gorman/
  3. https://www.lucies.org/jury/greg-gorman/
  4. https://www.gormanphotography.com/books
  5. https://www.teneues.com/en/book/it-s-not-about-me
  6. https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-greg-gorman/
  7. https://lacphoto.org/people/greg-gorman-2/
  8. https://www.kcur.org/show/up-to-date/2012-03-15/celebrity-photographer-greg-gorman
  9. https://petapixel.com/greg-gorman-interview/
  10. https://www.photoworkshop.com/artman/publish/greg_gorman.shtml
  11. https://www.sohnfineart.com/greg-gorman
  12. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-05-ca-780-story.html
  13. https://www.napawineproject.com/gkg-cellars/
  14. https://www.cellartracker.com/m/wines/search?producer=GKG%20Cellars
  15. https://www.hitimewine.net/gkg-cellars-2014-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-750ml-225490
  16. https://www.robertparker.com/wines/Hvraw2YuRkFicqEDx
  17. https://www.klwines.com/p/2015-gkg-cellars-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon/1466173
  18. https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1336329
  19. https://www.amazon.com/Greg-Gorman-Inside-Life/dp/0847819981
  20. https://www.amazon.com/Greg-Gorman-Perspectives/dp/8883100492
  21. https://www.amazon.com/Greg-Gorman-Framed-L-Eyeworks/dp/8862082037
  22. https://www.melbye-konan.com/publications/9-special-edition-of-homage-by-philo-fine-arts/
  23. https://www.faheykleingallery.com/artists/greg-gorman
  24. https://www.gormanphotography.com/gallery-exhibitions
  25. https://xposure.net/exhibitions-2023/
  26. https://www.melbye-konan.com/press/104-pictures-of-african-sculptures-in-st-petri-church-exhibition-in-lubeck/
  27. https://www.gormanphotography.com/upcoming-worksops
  28. http://www.photoworkshop.com/artman/publish/greg_gorman.shtml
  29. https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/la-stories/2021/09/18/la-stories-photographer-greg-gorman
  30. https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/greg-gorman-attends-the-elton-john-aids-foundations-31st-news-photo/1473116972
  31. https://sva.edu/faculty/greg-gorman
  32. https://www.shutterbug.com/content/greg-gorman-retrospective
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