About the Artist
Brian Duffy (1933–2010), known only ever as Duffy, was one of Britain’s most influential photographers who revolutionised British photography in the 1960s and onwards, working for British Vogue, French Elle, The Sunday Times Magazine and leading international publications. He is one of the few photographers to have shot two Pirelli Calendars and won awards for his advertising campaigns.
Duffy is best known for his extraordinary collaborations with David Bowie between 1972 and 1980, photographing him in five defining sessions (three album covers). Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke, Lodger and Scary Monsters. His iconic 1973 Aladdin Sane portrait has become one of the most recognisable images in popular culture, a defining photograph of the 20th century and achieved a world record for album cover art at Bonhams London in 2025.
Although the archive holds images of Lennon, Debbie Harry, Black Sabbath, and numerous other pop personalities, he worked with leading international film stars and personalities throughout his career.
Duffy's work has been exhibited internationally, with the leading image for the V&A’s record-breaking touring exhibition David Bowie Is, and has played a significant role in the National Portrait Gallery's 2023 reopening. His photographs are held in major museum collections and continue to grow in cultural and commercial significance.
In 2010, Duffy was named one of the 100 most influential photographers of all time by the British Journal of Photography.
