Dean Chalkey Exhibition Open Party – Oriel Colwyn, Wales

EXHIBITION OPENING NEWS

The exhibition opens in the afternoon on Saturday 21st March with a special musical viewing party – We’ve persuaded Dean to bring along a selection of his vinyl gems, to provide the vibes for the afternoon (yes, he DJ’s as well!) ALL ARE WELCOME, no tickets required, just pop along between 2pm-6pm to view the exhibition, meet Dean and enjoy the tunes!

Following the opening, Dean will then speak about his work and career at a special Talk Photo event in the gallery at 7pm (as this will be a seated event, tickets will be required as there are limited spaces available – If you’re quick, you can secure your place HERE where tickets are either FREE or donation based – pay what you can)

Since picking up a camera for Dazed & Confused in the mid 90s, Dean Chalkley’s trademark positivity and creative energy has seen him become one of the UK’s leading documentarians of British subculture, an eminent portrait photographer and revered music photographer responsible for some of the most notable music imagery of the 21st century.

Dean’s work carries with it authenticity and integrity, making it the perfect conduit for brands to communicate with their audiences. He has worked with a raft of fashion brands such as Levis, Adidas and Ray Ban and outside the fashion context campaigns with Virgin, Sony Music and Universal Pictures to name but a few.

Contributing to editorial publications including The Observer Magazine, Vanity Fair, Sunday Times Magazine and a two-decade relationship with the NME highlights his willingness to engage with emerging talents as well as established subjects. Genuine interest in his subjects and how they sit as part of our cultural tapestry informs his work and produces highly stimulating imagery.

His extensive archive spans photography, film and mixed-media with each image connected by his deep commitment to the idea of personal style as a form of cultural resistance.

Originally trained as a tailor, Dean’s love of sartorial style has inspired some of his most notable projects. Return of the Rudeboy, an immersive exhibition at Somerset House, brought an important and rarely documented subculture onto the main stage of one of London’s major institutions.