Press Releases
DICK POLAK’S ‘A 20th CENTURY BOY’ PHOTO EXHIBITION BRINGS RARE, INTIMATE PORTRAITS OF MUSIC ICONS TO THE GIBSON GALLERY AT THE GIBSON GARAGE LONDON
| A new exhibition of rare and unseen prints by acclaimed photographer Dick Polak will be showcased at the Gibson Gallery inside the Gibson Garage London. These images offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of some of the most iconic performers of the 1960s and 1970s. A collection of rare and unseen portraits by renowned photographer Dick Polak, the exhibit titled Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy, will go on display the public at the Gibson Gallery located inside the Gibson Garage London beginning Wednesday 19th of November. Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy showcases the extraordinary work of acclaimed photographer Dick Polak (1940–2025), whose images offer an intimate glimpse into the vibrant lives of some of the most iconic performers and vibrant lives of the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition features Polak’s candid portraits of The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, the Faces, The Who, Marc Bolan, Jimmy Cliff, Anita Pallenberg, and many others. In 1968, Polak was personally invited by Mick Jagger to photograph the filming of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. The legendary concert film included a one-off performance by the supergroup The Dirty Mac, featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono on vocals, Eric Clapton on guitar, Keith Richards on bass, and Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums. Polak’s career during this era allowed him to form lasting and meaningful relationships with many of the artists he photographed. By blurring the lines between photographer and friend, he often spent more time simply hanging out than shooting. This unique closeness enabled him to capture remarkably relaxed and candid moments, resulting in a body of work that feels both personal and timeless. Though Polak sadly passed away in April, his legacy lives on through his unforgettable work. The exhibition is complemented by a series of new prints from his friend, artist and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. At the Gibson Gallery, Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy offers music and photography collectors and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to view and purchase prints from the Polak archives. The exhibition is further enriched by new works from Ronnie Wood’s Paint It Black series, presented alongside Polak’s timeless images. “Dick’s old pics are great! He was always there snapping away, but you never saw him. He liked a good drink and a good laugh. Dick’s okay—you can tell from his photos.” —Ronnie Wood All artwork for Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy is curated by the Dick Polak Estate, the Gibson Garage London, and RedHouse Gallery, and made possible through RedHouse Originals. View and purchase artwork from Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy through RedHouse Gallery: https://www.redhouseoriginals.com/exhibitions/dick-polak-a-20th-century-boy. |
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| Above: Patti Boyd, Eric Clapton and Ronnie Wood.All images –copyright/credit as Dick Polak / the Estate of Dick Polak. |
 All images –copyright/credit as Dick Polak / the Estate of Dick Polak. |
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| Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy (1940 – 2025)All images –copyright/credit as Dick Polak / the Estate of Dick Polak. Friends and fans share their memories of Dick Polak: “It’s said that if you can remember the Sixties, you can’t have been there… the photographer Dick Polak was not only there, but he had his camera as proof, helping memorialise the times.”–Mick Brown “It was a long time ago that I worked with Dick, but I remember those sessions in Rome very well. We drove all around town and got out of the car when we felt like it and took pictures in the forum and other great buildings… Nothing ever formal or posed, I just did what I felt like, and Dick would take pictures, really easy, great memories.” –Charlotte Rampling “Dickie was around a lot in those days… He was around so much he sort of became part of the scene of what was going on in rehearsals in the studio. Doing shoots with him was easy, he was there, and you never had to pose or anything.”–Steve Winwood “It’s about time Dick’s photographs from the Sixties are exhibited… He’s been keeping them to himself for far too long.”–John Barry GIBSON GARAGE LONDON: |
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| Gibson Garage London The Gibson Garage London, located at 61–62 Eastcastle Street, is the brand’s first store outside the U.S. following the successful opening of the Gibson Garage Nashville, and the ultimate guitar experience in the heart of the city. Opened by Jimmy Page, Sir Brian May, and Tony Iommi, it offers music lovers the chance to explore Gibson’s over 130-year legacy through hundreds of guitars. Inside, fans can pick up and play all things Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, MESA/Boogie, Gibson Amplifiers, and Maestro pedals. With live performances, special events, exclusive apparel, and the Made-to-Measure program for custom instruments, the Gibson Garage London is a vibrant destination for musicians, fans, and collectors alike. For the latest news and updates, follow @GibsonGuitarUK. GIBSON GARAGE LONDON61-62 Eastcastle StreetLondon, UKW1W 8NQ(one block from Oxford Street) Mon-Fri 11am-7pmSat 11am-7pmSun 12-6pm :***About Dick PolakDick Polak was born and raised in the vibrant and culturally rich city of Amsterdam, where he became deeply immersed in the burgeoning Dutch film industry of the 1950s. During these formative years working as a camera assistant, he honed his skills in cinematography and storytelling, gaining invaluable experience and insights into the craft which would lay the foundations down for his growth as a photographer in later years. In 1966, seeking new opportunities and creative challenges, he decided to move to London to break into the UK film scene. However, during his first few days in London, a chance encounter with a considerable amount of the conversation being lost in translation, led someone to mistakenly take Polak as a professional portrait photographer. Keen for work, and not wanting to lose the opportunity, he quickly borrowed a Leica camera from an old friend, loaded it with Infra-Red film, and never looked back. This was the start of his remarkable photographic journey. Over the next decade, Polak became a much-in-demand photographer within the vibrant and ever-evolving music and film industries, predominantly working in London, but often travelling through Europe to cities such as Rome, Berlin, and Paris. His notable contributions to the field of film include capturing iconic moments on sets for cult classics and historically influential works such as Jean Luc Godard’s revolutionary film One Plus One, Luchino Visconti’s harrowing drama The Damned, and Mick Jagger’s avant-garde production Performance, as well as being approached by filmmaker Stanley Kubrick to shoot a series of promotional pictures for the controversial film A Clockwork Orange. In 1968, Polak was invited by Mick Jagger to photograph the filming of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, where he captured some if his most iconic images of the time alongside Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and Michael Randolf. During this prolific and creative period, Polak was also engaged extensively by Chris Blackwell and Island Records, shooting intimate rehearsal sessions with Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Billy Preston, and worked on several album covers with Jim Capaldi, and Steve Winwood of Traffic. He also accompanied Marc Bolan & T.Rex, Cat Stevens, and various other bands on tours across Europe and the United States. Working as a photographer during this period led Polak to develop long lasting and meaningful relationships with many of the people he photographed, blurring the lines between photographer and friend, hanging out more than shooting enabled him to capture some remarkably relaxed and candid material. Polak and his wife Edina went on to become an integral part of London’s swinging sixties, the vibrant ‘happening’ scene that defined the era, photographing and documenting some of the most prominent rock stars, fashion designers, actors, and writers of the time. This unwavering dedication and passion for his craft resulted in the creation of an extensive and remarkable body of work that offers a deeply intimate and revealing glimpse into the lives and times of some of the most iconic movers and shakers from the unforgettable 1960s and 1970s. About RedHouse Gallery:RedHouse Gallery specialise in Modern and Contemporary Art, showcasing work by established and emerging artists. The gallery curate a regular programme of exhibitions and events from their Harrogate flagship, in addition to international pop up exhibitions. They have hosted collections by artists including Sir Peter Blake, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and Norwegian phenomenon Danny Larsen. RedHouse have also extensively exhibited work by leading multi-platform artists including Ian Skelly (The Coral), Horace Panter (The Specials), Goldie and Candie Payne. Dick Polak: A 20th Century Boy is the latest in a series of exhibitions curated by RedHouse at the Gibson Garage London. It follows the inaugural presentation by legendary rock’n’roll photographer Gered Mankowitz and ‘A New World Blazing’ featuring Sharon Latham’s portraits of Noel Gallagher. About Gibson:Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for over 130 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by all Gibson brands. Explore more at Gibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook, and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London. |
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