William Klein’s panoramic portrait of the 20th century

A new exhibition brings together the dynamic, playful and innovative photography of an often overlooked American artist.

At 94 years old, William Klein, one of the most innovative artists of our time, is finally receiving proper recognition in his country of birth with his first major American museum retrospective, William Klein: YES; Photographs, Paintings, Films, 1948–2013, at New York’s International Center of Photography (ICP).

Curated by David Campany, ICP’s Curator-at-Large, the exhibition brings together nearly 300 works from Klein’s groundbreaking career including his seminal photographic studies of New York, Rome, Paris, Moscow, and Tokyo as well as excerpts of documentary films about Muhammad Ali, Eldridge Cleaver, and the Pan-African Festival of Algiers.

Easter Sunday, Harlem High Hat, New York, 1955.

Organised chronologically and thematically, the exhibition begins at the start of Klein’s career in Paris just after the war while studying with artist Fernand Léger. Leger encouraged the aspiring painter to pursue photography, film, and publishing, which Klein did after Alexander Liberman, art director of American Vogue, invited him to New York to shoot for the magazine. 

“Klein started taking fashion pictures, but also got Vogue to bankroll his street photography,” says Campany. “Some days, he was in a studio doing large format, meticulous camera work fashion still lives. Other days, he was going out with a black and white 35mm camera making very gritty, immediate, immersive street photography. Within a few years, he turned his hand to making films. He was juggling all of these things and sustained that for decades.”

Working across multiple genres and mediums, Klein avoided industry labels used to pigeonhole artists. When asked how he identifies himself, Campany says, “He doesn’t even bother.” What matters most to Klein is the creation of the work, not the way it is marketed or sold.

Independence Day Parade, Dakar, 1963.

“The title of the show, YES, was William’s idea. He just said yes to things that came along. There are so many extraordinary coincidences and moments of chance in his life,” says Campany.

“It might be Malcolm X getting him into the training camp of Cassius Clay to make a film, Federico Fellini who invited him to Rome, or meeting Little Richard and making a film about him. He always said yes, because you don’t know what it will lead to. You don’t have to hustle but you’re also stepping outside your comfort zone.” 

Moves and Pepsi, Harlem, New York, 1955.

What makes Klein’s career all the more impressive is a through line that connects the work, a signature style that is bold, dynamic, and willing to break the rules. “When he goes out to the street, he’s never trying to be invisible. He’s talking to people, allowing them into the whole adventure of making a picture,” says Campany.

“There’s a great honesty about his place in the world and the kinds of interactions he has that strikes a chord with young image makers who are always interested in the ethical questions like, ‘Who and how can I photograph? Is there a power relation implied by the camera?’ These are important questions to Klein’s approach – which is just to be open, curious, and engaged with people.”

Filmstrips from Broadway by Light, 1958.

Candy Store, Amsterdam Avenue, New York, 1955.

Black Venus West Indian Day Parade, Brooklyn, New York, 2013.

Bikini, Moskva (River), Moscow, 1959.

William Klein: YES; Photographs, Paintings, Films, 1948–2013 is on view at the International Center of Photography in New York through September 12, 2022. The exhibition catalogue will be published by Thames & Hudson in autumn.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Sport

Is the UK ready for a Kabaddi boom?

Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi — Watched by over 280 million in India, the breathless contact sport has repeatedly tried to grip British viewers. Ahead of the Kabaddi World Cup being held in Wolverhampton this month, Kyle MacNeill speaks to the gamechangers laying the groundwork for a grassroots scene.

Written by: Kyle MacNeill

Culture

One photographer’s search for her long lost father

Decades apart — Moving to Southern California as a young child, Diana Markosian’s family was torn apart. Finding him years later, her new photobook explores grief, loss and connection.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Culture

As DOGE stutters, all that remains is cringe

Department of Gargantuan Egos — With tensions splintering the American right and contemporary rap’s biggest feud continuing to make headlines, newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains how fragile male egos stand at the core of it all.

Written by: Emma Garland

Culture

Photo essay special: Despite pre-Carnival anxiety, Mardi Gras 2025 was a joyous release for New Orleans

A city celebrates — Following a horrific New Year’s Day terror attack and forecasts for extreme weather, the Louisiana city’s marquee celebration was pre-marked with doubt. But the festival found a city in a jubilant mood, with TBow Bowden there to capture it.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Sport

From his skating past to sculpting present, Arran Gregory revels in the organic

Sensing Earth Space — Having risen to prominence as an affiliate of Wayward Gallery and Slam City Skates, the shredder turned artist creates unique, temporal pieces out of earthly materials. Dorrell Merritt caught up with him to find out more about his creative process.

Written by: Dorrell Merritt

Music

In Bristol, pub singers are keeping an age-old tradition alive

Ballads, backing tracks, beers — Bar closures, karaoke and jukeboxes have eroded a form of live music that was once an evening staple, but on the fringes of the southwest’s biggest city, a committed circuit remains.

Written by: Fred Dodgson

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to stay informed from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, with personal takes on the state of media and pop culture in your inbox every month from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...