SIMON DE PURY Exhibition

Naoyesque 1, Aspen, December 2009

Leica Gallery London presents a distinctive group of photographic works taken by Simon de Pury, one of the most legendary and leading figures in the art world. Internationally known for his

performance on the auction podium, de Pury is also renowned for his deep and longstanding knowledge of the global marketplace and for his love of art in all genres, shapes, forms and centuries. As well as an Auctioneer and Art Dealer, he is also a photographer and DJ. In the last two decades he has exhibited in Geneva (Art + Public Gallery), Art Basel, Berlin (The Corner), Paris (Colette) and Moscow (Multimedia Art Museum), but, perhaps surprisingly, this will be the first time de Pury has shown his own work in London.

Simon de Pury’s ‘BLOW UP’ will be on show at Leica Gallery London

from the 20th of September until the 30th of October 2025.

“From birth onwards we are confronted with the inexorable passing of time. I love photography as it succeeds in suspending and freezing time.”

Simon de Pury

Leica Gallery’s exhibition brings together 11 works which focus on everyday life - zooming in with his keen and ravenous eye, de Pury dissects details that we otherwise miss. In doing so he gives the most ordinary and mundane a new magical existence, commanding the viewer’s attention. Through scale and de Pury’s unique perception, which allowed him to spot new talent and be hugely instrumental in championing the careers of many contemporary artists, photographers and designers, we are presented with something both desirable, seductive and fresh. Just like Irving Penn and his study of cigarette butts which lead to their elevation as premium objects– de Pury elevates these segments of his discoveries to high art.

Left: You're the best I ever had! Cheval Blanc, Maldives, April 2009; Right: Barbara's Carpet, Miami Beach, May 2009

Earlier in his career, Simon de Pury was Owner, Chairman and Chief Auctioneer of Phillips de Pury &

Company, before that he was Chairman Europe and Chief Auctioneer Worldwide at Sotheby’s. He was also curator of the Thyssen–Bornemisza Collection, the world’s largest private collection at the time, that today is housed in its own museum in Madrid. He was the subject of an hour-long documentary on the BBC, titled The Man with the Golden Gavel and was also the mentor in Bravo’s reality TV show‚ Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.

Over his many years an active charity auctioneer, de Pury has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for a number of charities and cultural institutions. These organizations include amfAR, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Guggenheim Museum, New Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Los Angeles, Fondation Beyeler, Human Rights Watch, and Elton John Aids Foundation, among many others.

All images copyright Simon de Pury. Courtesy of Leica Gallery London

Silver Sun, Los Angeles, December 2009