Renowned Photographer Annie Leibovitz Celebrates Women Through Decades of portraiture in New Volume
Los Angeles - Celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz unveiled a new volume of her work dedicated to photographing women, sparking discussion about her legacy and approach to portraiture. Teh collection, titled “Women,” showcases Leibovitz’s extensive career capturing a diverse range of influential figures, from artists and athletes to political leaders and everyday individuals.
The book arrives as Leibovitz’s work faces recent critique, though the photographer, her representatives, and publisher Phaidon Press have declined to comment. Phaidon Vice President Deborah Aaronson, who collaborated on four Leibovitz titles, asserts the series “reaffirms Annie Leibovitz’s place in the photographic canon,” adding that it captures ”a breadth of experience and people…that’s unparalleled,” and establishing Leibovitz as “the most crucial chronicler of women over the past 50 years.”
Leibovitz’s journey to becoming a leading portrait photographer began unexpectedly. Initially intending to be a painter, she enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute at age 22, but a photography class altered her path. While still a student, she boldly pitched a shoot featuring John Lennon to rolling Stone magazine. Three years later, she became historically notable as the last photographer to photograph lennon and Yoko Ono, later becoming Rolling Stone’s chief photographer.
Her career expanded further in 1983 when she joined the staff of Vanity Fair, broadening her subjects to include actors, athletes, and politicians. In 1991, Leibovitz broke ground as the first woman to have a solo show at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and was named a Library of Congress Living Legend in 2000.
Beyond her professional achievements, Leibovitz’s personal life has been marked by significant milestones. She gave birth to her first daughter, Sarah Cameron Leibovitz, in 2001 at age 52, with Susan Sontag present at her bedside. In 2005, she welcomed twin daughters, Susan (named after her sister) and Samuelle, via surrogate. In 2009, she was commissioned to create the official portrait of President Barack obama, Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia-a continuation of a relationship that began in 2004 when she photographed Obama during his Senate campaign.
Concluding a recent public appearance, Leibovitz expressed a desire to photograph the White House, while wryly observing, “I don’t think there will be much of it left when I get to it,” a sentiment met with enthusiastic applause.
