Academics Admission Life At SCAD Career + Alumni About SCAD SCAD Presents "Albert Watson: The Light Behind The Lens"

Press release from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta:

Dec. 16, 2020

The prolific photographer’s first U.S. solo museum exhibition opens at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The Savannah College of Art and Design is proud to present the exhibition Albert Watson: The Light Behind the Lens at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film. The exhibition features more than 50 prints curated from Watson’s extensive photographic archive that showcase the artist’s distinctive style, expert use of light and shadow, and the breadth of his 50-year career.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Watson studied graphic design and film, and credits his success as a photographer to this broad visual education. His photographic career began with his move to Los Angeles in 1970, when he started shooting mostly for fashion magazines and later broadened his work to include celebrity portraiture, beauty, still life, and fine art. Since then, Watson has taken some of the most iconic photographs of our time, and his exquisite handmade prints have been displayed in galleries and museums around the world. From Andy Warhol to Kate Moss to Hollywood royalty, Watson’s striking photographs have graced more than 100 covers of Vogue worldwide and elite publications such as TIME magazine, Rolling Stone, and Harper’s Bazaar.

“I’ve always been driven by the pursuit of excellence in photography,” said Watson, “but also by how I can improve every time I pick up the camera. How can I make that next shot more powerful, more interesting, more beautiful, and, most importantly, more memorable? For a younger generation of artists and photographers, that would be my most important advice: Never be fully satisfied with what you’ve accomplished. Always strive to improve and never lose your curiosity. Hopefully, these prints of some of my fashion photography will provide inspiration for them and pique their curiosity as they begin their own careers.”

Visitors to the museum will view some of Watson’s most celebrated works as well as photographs that have never before been publicly exhibited. Watson made all of the prints that will be on display in the exhibition. SCAD students from top-ranked degree programs, including photography, fashion design, advertising, luxury and fashion management, and graphic design, will also have the opportunity to interact with the artist through virtual exhibition tours, conversations, and other future programming.

“It is a great honor for SCAD to collaborate on an exhibition dedicated to one of the most influential photographers of all time,” said Rafael Gomes, director of fashion exhibitions at SCAD. “SCAD FASH is presenting a variety of work depicting Watson’s unique photographic view, sublime composition, and light control — all curated from the artist’s vast personal archive and printed by the master himself. These photographs will provide such inspiration and insight for our SCAD students and alumni, allowing the chance to view work by a true living creative legend.” For more information on Albert Watson: The Light Behind the Lens, visit scadfash.org.

About the artist

Albert Watson (b. 1942, Edinburgh, Scotland) has been named one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time. His photographs have appeared in hundreds of ad campaigns for major brands including Chanel and Prada and are held in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; and the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of numerous honors, including a Lucie Award, a Grammy Award, and the Centenary Medal, a lifetime achievement award from the Royal Photographic Society. In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his lifetime contribution to the art of photography. Watson lives and works in New York.

About SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film celebrates fashion as a universal language, garments as important conduits of identity, and film as an immersive and memorable medium of popular culture. Situated within SCAD Atlanta, the museum presents dynamic exhibitions, captivating films, and enticing events that mine the rich and storied legacies of fashion history to inspire contemporary designers and future innovations. Supported by the university’s strong global presence and connections to renowned contemporary fashion designers, filmmakers, and creative professionals around the world, SCAD FASH is an integral part of the SCAD educational experience.

Like the award-winning SCAD Museum of Art, SCAD FASH serves as a creative resource for students of all ages and a wellspring of inspiration for visitors. Through programming that engages the university’s broad array of academic disciplines, SCAD FASH offers diverse exhibitions, films, installations, per-formances, and events to enliven and inspire the greater community year-round. Each program is designed to engage and appeal to visitors with varied backgrounds and interests, from textiles and jewelry to photography and film. Past exhibitions have featured the work of designers Azzedine Alaïa, Pierre Cardin, Carolina Herrera, Mary Katrantzou, Guo Pei, and Oscar de la Renta. Photographic exhibitions have featured the work of Jonathan Becker, Bill Cunningham, and Omar Victor Diop. Exhibitions are accompanied by curated film series that complement programming. Past films include Pierre Cardin: Le Futur, The First Monday in May, Funny Face, The Leopard, and Ovation for Oscar, among others.

For more information, visit scadfash.org.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering more than 100 academic degree programs in more than 40 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning and SCADnow.

SCAD enrolls approximately 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and other advanced learning resources, and affords students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. In 2020, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD as the No. 1 university in the U.S. and in the top two universities in the Americas and Europe for the fourth consecutive year. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. In a study of Spring 2019 SCAD graduates, 99% were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.

This press release was produced by the Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta. The views expressed here are the author’s own.