‘A man who thrived on risks and challenges, who lived to create.'
In 2013 Duffy was voted as one of the topmost 100 influential photographers of all time and he richly deserves that title. When Duffy felt he had pushed the boundaries as far as he could and was no longer satisfied with stills photography he abruptly shut his studio, attempted to burn all of his negatives and moved into commercials.
Despite repeated requests to return to still photography, give interviews or discuss his career, he became reclusive and his remaining negatives would have stayed in boxes under the stairs had it not been for the persistence of his eldest son, Chris.
Chris realised that Duffy’s name was slowly slipping into obscurity and regularly tried to persuade him to do something with his remaining archive. It wasn’t until 2006 when Duffy was diagnosed with the degenerative lung disease Pulmonary Fibrosis that he finally gave Chris the green light to start putting the archive together. The process was a labour of love for the first few years. Organising, scanning and databasing his negatives took many hours whilst Chris was running his own photographic studio.
In 2009 the opportunity to exhibit at Chris Beetles Gallery in Mayfair London (now Beetles & Huxley) gave Duffy the platform for his first-ever exhibition which was hailed with great critical acclaim. The exhibition ignited an incredible interest in his work and there were regular queues to see the show.
During the process of putting the exhibition together, the BBC commissioned a documentary on Duffy’s life and work which aired in 2010. Chris then started on the first monograph but sadly Duffy was never to see this and passed away on 31st May 2010. Since 2010 Duffy’s work has been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries around the world. In 2012 the Victoria and Albert Museum requested the use of the original Aladdin Sane record cover ‘dye transfer’ print for their British Design 1948-2012 cultural exhibition. In 2013 the V&A approached the archive for use of the newly released ‘Eyes Open’ version as the lead image for the ‘David Bowie is’ exhibition.
This exhibition has achieved record-breaking numbers in several venues and has been seen by over 1.5 million visitors. Duffy’s name has now become recognised by an international audience and is now firmly back on the map.
In 2014 Duffy’s second book was released - Duffy Bowie: Five Sessions which covers his work with David Bowie. Written by Chris Duffy and Kevin Cann the book explores the chemistry and creation of these five iconic sets of images illustrated with interviews from people who were directly involved. The book is also available in French and Italian.
The archive is made up of negatives and contact sheets that have been retrieved from numerous UK and international publications; Vogue, French Elle, Glamour, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph to name but a few in addition to work held by independent archives. The process of exhibiting Duffy’s work continues and the future holds several more book projects illuminating Duffy’s eclectic and influential work.
Conceived in Dublin, Born in London 15th June.
Grew up in wartime London where he lived a self described "Enchanting childhood, running wild and exploring bomb sites.
Attended St. Martins school of art to study painting but switched to dress design - "The most attractive lot were these girls who were doing dress design (at Saint Martin's), so I got into dress design." - Duffy
Finished dress design and worked as Assistant Designer at Susan Small Dresses and then at Victor Steibel (Princess Margaret’s dress designer)
Offered a job in Paris with Balenciaga but turned it down due to the news that he was about to become a father.
Freelanced as a fashion artist including work for Harpers Bazaar. During this time Duffy saw some photographic contact sheets on the Art Directors desk. This appealed to Duffy and inspired him to think about photography and find a job as a photographic assistant. Applied for job with John French but was unsuccessful.
Landed a job as a Photographic Assistant at Carlton Studios but soon left for a better job at Cosmopolitan Artists who represented David Hurne, Ivor Sharpe and Ken Russell. Left Cosmopolitan Artists and took a job as an Assistant to Photographer Adrian Flowers.
While working for Adrian, Duffy shot his first photographic commission for The Sunday Times for Fashion Editor Ernestine Carter.
Hired by British Vogue under Art Director John Parsons and worked closely with models Jean Shrimpton (Who he introduced to David Bailey), Joy Weston, Jennifer Hocking & Pauline Stone.
Hired by US Art Director Miki Denhof to shoot in New York for Glamour Magazine.
Commissioned to shoot fashion in Paris for Elle Magazine by Swiss Art Director Peter Knapp. Also started working for the new British Sunday Times colour supplement photographing William Burroughs, Gregory Corsa and other important 'Beat' figures.
Brian Duffy, David Bailey & Terence Donovan dubbed the “Terrible Trio,”by The Sunday Times and “The Black Trinity” by Norman Parkinson.
Set up his own Studio in Swiss Cottage, North London taking Vogue printer Norman Brand with him as his personal printer.
Commissioned to shoot his first Pirelli Calendar, shot on location in the South of France.
French Elle – Became regular contributor under Art Director Peter Knapp.
Set up film production company DEIGHTON DUFFY with Len Deighton at 142 Piccadilly, London. Produced “Only When I Larf” starring David Hemmings. 68-69 Produced the musical film “Oh What a Lovely War” with Len Deighton.
Returned to photography and shot the first of Five Sessions with David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. Also commissioned to work on a second (1973) Pirelli Calendar with British Pop Artist Allen Jones and airbrush specialist Philip Castle.
Designed, shot and named David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane album cover (often nicknamed 'the Mona Lisa of pop') which went on to become a cultural icon.
Regular contributor to The Sunday Times Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine The Observer and Harpers & Queen
French Elle (second period). 1977 Commissioned by top London advertising agency Collett Dickenson Pearce to shoot the groundbreaking, award winning, Benson & Hedges advertisements.
Shot David Bowie as "The Thin White Duke" on the set of "The Man Who Fell to Earth." in New Mexico.
Award winning Smirnoff stills campaigns for Young & Rubican Agency.
Duffy shot "Lodger" - His fourth session with David Bowie. Shortly after He abruptly gave up photography attempting to burn many of his negatives in his studio yard. Luckily He was stopped by a local council employee due to the acrid smoke being produced. Much of His work was lost but what remains has formed The Duffy Archive covering a comprehensive visual history of twenty-five years of British culture and fashion.
David Bowie coaxed Duffy out of retirement for one last shoot – Scary Monsters. This was shot at Chris Duffy's London Studio.
Duffy moved onto television commercials and in 1981 joined the film production company Lewin Matthews.
Duffy directed the music video for ABC's "All Of My Heart" and two pop videos for The Human League including "Mirror Man."
Duffy directed the music video for Spandau Ballet's "Gold"
Duffy worked for Paul Kramer Productions in New York. Upon His return He set up his own film production company 3DZ.
3DZ pioneered the Super16 film format shooting TV commercials and pop videos including the British Steel flotation.
By this point Duffy had retired almost completely from all image making and pursued his lifelong passion for furniture restoration and became an accredited BAFRA (British Antique Furniture Restoration Association) restorer.
Duffy diagnosed with the lung condition Pulmonary Fibrosis. Agreed with son Chris to start work on putting together the Duffy Archive.
The Duffy Archive Limited was founded by Chris Duffy.
BBC Documentary “The Man Who Shot The Sixties” One hour documentary on Duffy’s life and work. First exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery Mayfair, London (now Beetles & Huxley)* See Exhibits page for full list of exhibition since 2009
Duffy passed away 31st May 2010
Continues in The Duffy Archive Section.
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