Photographer David Yarrow Casts Celebrities in Images that Conjure the Gritty London of ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’
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“Storytelling” is on view in Maddox Gallery’s new Mayfair space until November 26, 2023.
David Yarrow, London Town (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
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What you need to know: Last month, London-based Maddox Gallery opened a new flagship space at 12 Berkeley Street in the city’s chic Mayfair district – the gallery’s largest and best-equipped location to date. The inaugural exhibition, “David Yarrow: Storytelling,” a solo exhibition of the British artist’s recent photographic work, spans three floors in the airy new gallery space and is on view until November 26, 2023. A highlight of “Storytelling” are three new works filmed last September that draw inspiration from cultural touchstones like Oliver Twist and Peaky Blinders. The images pay homage to London’s storied history and culture over the decades. “After three months on the road it’s good to be back home in London this week,” said Yarrow. “But what’s special is being the artist opening Maddox’s new flagship gallery in the heart of Mayfair. I’m flattered to be a part of it and it’s a big moment in our journey.”
Exterior view of Maddox Gallery’s new location at 12 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London. Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
About the artist: Fine art photographer and conservationist David Yarrow (born 1966) is internationally known for his images of famous people – from sports stars to supermodels – and wildlife, natural landscapes and indigenous communities. He was named Scottish Young Photographer of the Year at the age of 20 while still enrolled at Edinburgh University. That same year, he took the iconic image of Diego Maradona holding the World Cup trophy in Mexico. Although he worked as an institutional stockbroker for nearly a decade after graduating in 1987, he eventually returned to photography. Based in London, Yarrow frequently travels to far-flung places, from Mustang Monument Ranch in Nevada to Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa, to capture some of the world’s most elusive animals and landscapes. Yarrow is involved in numerous charities and conservation organizations, which underscores the photographer’s deep commitment to the world he photographs.
Installation view of “David Yarrow: Storytelling” (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
Why we like it: As the title of the exhibition suggests, Yarrow has the unique ability to tell stories through a single image. Although he sometimes works in color, his black and white photographs reference larger narratives outside the frame in many ways through subject matter and composition. In his recent work with English model Cara Delevingne, the image could be mistaken for a still from a film, as background actors and careful set design convey the sense of time, place and event. Similarly, although perhaps more indirectly, Yarrow’s images of wild animals such as lions point to the importance and ongoing conservation of natural environments and habitats. And in Wolf of Wall Street (2023), the work simultaneously evokes the film of the same name and refers to the personal story of the artist, who worked for years in the financial sector before turning to photography.
Check out the featured works below:
David Yarrow, Wall Street (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
David Yarrow, An Englishman in New York (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
David Yarrow, London Town (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
David Yarrow, Commissioned by the Peaky Blinders (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
David Yarrow, Pretty Woman (2023). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
David Yarrow: Storytelling is on view at the Maddox Gallery, 12 Berkeley Street, London, until November 26, 2023.
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