Opening Reception Thursday 24 January at 7pm

Legendary photographer, Terry O’Neill, brings a major exhibition of his work to Cork in January 2013. The show will run at two venues: CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery and Cork City Hall from January 25th to February 22nd. O’Neill himself will be present at the opening at CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery, 7pm, January 24th.

O’Neill, who celebrates his 75th Birthday in 2013, began his career as a press photographer. He will forever be associated with London of the Swinging Sixties when he photographed the great and the good. Peter O’Toole and Richard Harris were counted in his circle of friends. The exhibition will feature a wide variety of his iconic portraits of the stars of that era, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull and Michael Caine.

He later worked in Hollywood and was married to the Oscar Winning actress, Faye Dunaway. The exhibition also features his portraits of Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Sean Connery, Lee Marvin, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Other images in the show include O’Neill’s intimate portraits of Mohammed Ali, Brigitte Bardot, David Bowie, Raquel Welch and Catherine Deneuve. Naomi Campbell, Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss and Bono are captured in some of the more recent work.

This is O’Neill’s first time to exhibit in Cork and it is a very special event for him as he has deep connections with the city. His father was born and reared on Blarney St., and worked in Henry Ford before transferring to their plant in Dagenham. On his retirement, he returned to Cork and is buried there. Visits to Cork were commonplace in his childhood. O’Neill’s mother was from Waterford.

Terry O’Neill has produced several books of photographs. His latest, ‘All About Bond’, celebrates his long association with the James Bond franchise. He will host a book signing n CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery 1pm, Friday January 25th. All prints featured in the exhibition are on sale.

O’Neill’s exhibition in Cork will be curated by Irish Examiner Arts Editor Marc O’Sullivan and arts writer and curator, Tina Darb O’Sullivan.