ARTIST
BOB GRUEN
Art at the Plaza
Bob Gruen - "John Lennon"
Bob Gruen (born in 1945 in New York City) is a legendary American rock photographer and author, known for his iconic images of some of the biggest names in rock and pop culture since the 1960s. He has a particular ability to capture the intimacy and attitude of music’s superstars and rebellious scenes. By being both a photographer and a friend to the artists, he has created visual documents that define and endure as timeless emblems of rock ’n’ roll culture.
Career beginnings & breakthrough
- Gruen began photographing in the mid-1960s and got his start by capturing Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
- Shortly after John Lennon’s move to New York in 1971, Gruen became his and Yoko Ono’s personal photographer, documenting both their working life and private moments.
Photographic subjects & style
- Gruen has portrayed an impressive range of artists: John Lennon, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Kiss, as well as emerging punk and new wave bands such as New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Blondie, and The Clash.
- Among his most famous images are John Lennon in a “New York City” T-shirt and the photograph in front of the Statue of Liberty — a symbol of personal freedom and resistance.
Exhibitions & recognitions
- Gruen’s works have been exhibited and celebrated in galleries internationally — from London to New York — capturing the vibrant, urban music scene of the 1970s.
- He has received several awards, including Mojo Magazine’s Honours List Award for Classic Image (2004), Outstanding Achievement Award from the International Society of Photographers (2007), and an honorary mention in the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2010).
Works & publications
- Author of several photobooks, including The Sex Pistols: Chaos (1990), The Clash (2004), John Lennon – The New York Years (2005) and the autobiography Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer (2020).
- A documentary about his life and work, Rock ‘N’ Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen, was released in 2011.