In what has become an annual tradition, the Monroe Gallery of Photography presents a special exhibition celebrating the famous photographer’s birthday Tony Vaccaro – this year in honor of his 99th birthday – on December 20.
The exhibition of over 40 photographs spans Tony’s 80-year career and features several photographs never before exhibited. Nearly 99, Tony Vaccaro is one of the few people alive who can claim to have survived the Battle of Normandy and COVID-19.
As the world has endured nearly two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tony Vaccaro’s work serves as an antidote to human inhumanity; by focusing on the splendor of life, Tony replaced the images of horror embedded in his eyes of war”.
Tony attributes his longevity to “blind luck, red wine” and determination. “To me, the best thing you can do is defy the world. And most of these challenges, I win them. This is what keeps me going. »
Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on December 20, 1922, Tony Vaccaro spent the early years of his life in the village of Bonefro, Italy, following his family left America under threat from the Mafia. His mother died in childbirth a few years before tuberculosis claimed his father, and by the age of 5 he was an orphan in Italy, raised by an uncaring aunt and enduring the beatings of an uncle. During World War II, he was an American GI, drafted into the war heading for Omaha Beach, six days following the first Normandy landings. Denied access to the Signal Corps, Tony was determined to photograph the war and had his Argus C-3 35mm portable with him from the start. For the next 272 days, he photographed his personal testimony to the brutality of war.
After the war, Tony stayed in Germany to photograph the rebuilding of the country for Stars And Stripes magazine. Returning to the United States in 1950, Tony began his career as a commercial photographer, eventually working for virtually every major publication: Look, Life, Harper’s Bazaar, Town and Country, Newsweek and many more. Tony became one of the most sought following photographers of his time.
On December 20, Tony Vaccaro will celebrate his 99th birthday, an inspiration to us all.
Tony Vaccaro will be exhibiting in person at the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) Photography Exhibit at the Monroe Gallery booth, New York City, May 19-22 at Center415, 415 Fifth Avenue.
Tony Vaccaro will appear remotely live from his New York home at a special public opening night on Friday, November 26, 5-7 p.m., guests must be fully vaccinated to attend. The exhibition will continue until January 16, 2022
Monroe Gallery is Safe-Certified in New Mexico in Covid-19 Safe Operating Procedures. The Gallery will follow all mandatory health guidelines in effect at the time of the exhibition. Compulsory vaccination to access the opening on November 26.
Exhibition of the 99th Anniversary of Tony Vaccaro
November 26, 2021 – January 16, 2022
Monroe Gallery of Photography
112 Don Gaspar Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501 USA