If you are into fashion, you should be familiar with the name Bill Cunningham. Having spent nearly 40 years working as a fashion photographer for The New York Times, Bill Cunningham established his name by documenting street style in New York wearing his signature blue French worker’s jacket, snapping with his Nikon camera and riding on a Biria bicycle in Manhattan. However, the legendary photographer passed away at age 87 on June 25, 2016, a few days after he suffered a stroke. Following his death, the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th street, which used to be Cunningham’s favorite place to photograph New Yorkers’ style, was temporarily renamed as “Bill Cunningham Corner” for a week to honor the photographer.
Even though he is no longer with us, but Bill Cunningham’s legacy lives on, and still influences the fashion world and modern photography immeasurably, even more than he could have imagined.
To celebrate his stylish legacy, the New-York Historical Society is honouring the beloved street photographer with a special exhibition reflecting on his life and fascinating work. The exhibition, dubbed “Celebrating Bill Cunningham”, will showcase a selection from Bill’s Facades project – an 8-year photographic project documenting New York City’s architectural and fashion history. A series of photographs documenting his friendship with floral designer Toni Cimino, known as Suzette, as well as his bicycle, camera and signature blue jacket will be also on display in the exhibition.
The “Celebrating Bill Cunningham” exhibition will run from June 8, 2018 through September 9, 2018.
