Star photographer David Bailey, who helped define the visual style of Swinging London in the ‘60s with photographs of everyone from the Beatles to Andy Warhol, received the 2016 ICP (International Center of Photography) Infinity Award Lifetime Achievement Award at a mega gala held at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers.
Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chef of Harper’s Bazaar, introduced the photographer, who joked with the audience about their shared last names. “Glenda Bailey is not my daughter,” he said. Bailey, the editor, quipped back noting that Bailey made his subjects so sexy that Mick Jagger should probably thank the photographer for all his children.
Bailey received his award to a standing ovation. He confessed that initially he “was not particularly interested in photography; ” that he just wanted to make images, and photography was the quickest path. He added, “If I was faster with a paintbrush, I may have gone that route.” Bailey talked about his process and said that he’s “always looking for the accident,” which he said is the “secret to creativity.”
Awards also went to Matthew Connors, Fire in Cairo (Artist’s Book); Jonathan Harris and Gregor Hochmuth, Network Effect (Online Platform and New Media); Zanele Muholi (Documentary and Photojournalism); Susan Schuppli (Critical Writing and Research); Artur Walther, The Walther Collection (Trustee Award); and Walid Raad’s wife, Lynn Love accepted the award (given for Art photography) on his behalf.
Guests included media personalities as well as leading figures from the worlds of culture and philanthropy including Marjorie Rosen; Bella Hadid, Alexandra Richards, Leelee Sobieski, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor; Stefano Tonchi, Editor-in-Chief of W; Gabriela and Austin Hearst; Debra and Leon Black; James and Merryl Tisch; gallerists Yancey Richardson and Tony Shafrazi, philanthropists Pat Schoenfeld and Sarina Tang, and ICP Trustee Diane Tuft.
