Los Angeles Is Ready for Its Close-up, Gary Leonard
Photographer Gary Leonard spent his life racing to be ahead of the next explosive, historic or offbeat moment in Los Angeles history. After more than 35 years shooting photos professionally, Leonard has captured Los Angeles on its best civic behavior—and at its most gonzo rock ’n’ roll style.
After Leonard was laid-off at the Los Angeles Citybeat alternative newspaper in November, he chose to take a break, catch a deep breath and tell his Los Angeles story at his first gallery in downtown Los Angeles.
The gallery is called “Take My Picture, Gary Leonard,” which was also the title of his weekly photo column, which was published for more than 16 years in a number of the alternative weekly newspapers, including Los Angeles Reader, New Times and Los Angeles Citybeat. Leonard has been shooting since 1971, and his work has appeared in Los Angeles Weekly, the New York Times and Newsweek. He currently shoots some photographs for Los Angeles Downtown News
The veteran chronicler’s gallery opened Jan. 1 at 860 S. Broadway. Most of the shots on exhibition were intended to have an immediate, candid feel to them. At the gallery is Leonard’s candid shot of iconic artist Keith Haring working with a model at a Los Angeles fashion show in 1986. Another is former President Richard Nixon politely applauding remarks made by former Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev in San Clemente, Calif. in 1973. There are pictures of punk-rock luminary Darby Crash. (Leonard was one of the main chroniclers of the Los Angeles punk scene of the late 1970s.) The gallery offers a colorful picture of the gala, fireworks debut of Los Angeles landmark Walt Disney Hall, the construction of Staples Center, and there are hundreds of portraits of Los Angelenos doing everything from walking down the street to streaking down the street.
On sale at the gallery are Leonard’s photographs, priced $20 for work prints or news photos and $125 for one of his archival prints, which are on museum-quality paper. Larger 30”-by-40” portraits cost $1,200. For those who want to be part of the parade, Leonard will take headshots for $150. Leonard said the best part of his experience was to see every part of the often-confusing place that is Los Angeles.
“Everything is in transition,” mused Leonard. “What is consistent here is the history of Los Angeles. It’s what moves me.”
For more information, call (213) 304-4279 or visit the gallery’s site.
Photojournalist Gary Leonard took this photo of Keith Haring in 1986
Gary Leonard’s portrait of Walt Disney Hall
Leonard’s Shot of Sirens sunning in downtown Los Angeles
