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Chris Killip: 1946-2020
The definitive, full-career retrospective of the life and work of Chris Killip (1946-2020), one of the UK's most important and influential post-war documentary photographers.
Grounded in sustained immersion and participation in the communities he photographed, Chris Killip's keenly observed work chronicled ordinary people's lives in stark, yet sympathetic, detail. His photographs are recognized as some of the most important visual records of 1980s Britain; as editor of this book Ken Grant reflects, they tell the story of those who 'had history done to them , who felt its malicious disregard and yet, like the photographer with whom they shared so much of their lives, refused to yield or look away.'
Published to coincide with the first full retrospective of Killip's life and work at the Photographers' Gallery, London, this book, designed by Niall Sweeney & Nigel Truswell at Pony Ltd, presents photographs from each of his major series alongside lesser-known works. It includes a foreword by Brett Rogers, in-depth essays by Ken Grant tracing Killip's life and career, and texts by Gregory Halpern, Amanda Maddox and Lynsey Hanley.
Grounded in sustained immersion and participation in the communities he photographed, Chris Killip's keenly observed work chronicled ordinary people's lives in stark, yet sympathetic, detail. His photographs are recognized as some of the most important visual records of 1980s Britain; as editor of this book Ken Grant reflects, they tell the story of those who 'had history done to them , who felt its malicious disregard and yet, like the photographer with whom they shared so much of their lives, refused to yield or look away.'
Published to coincide with the first full retrospective of Killip's life and work at the Photographers' Gallery, London, this book, designed by Niall Sweeney & Nigel Truswell at Pony Ltd, presents photographs from each of his major series alongside lesser-known works. It includes a foreword by Brett Rogers, in-depth essays by Ken Grant tracing Killip's life and career, and texts by Gregory Halpern, Amanda Maddox and Lynsey Hanley.
- GenresPhotography
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2022
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13 people want to read
About the author
Chris Killip
17 books6 followersChris Killip is widely regarded as one of the most influential British photographers of his generation. Born in the Isle of Man in 1946, he began his career as a commercial photographer before turning to his own work in the late 1960s. His book, In Flagrante, a collection of photographs made in the North East of England during the 1970s and early 1980s, is now recognized as a landmark work of documentary photography. Other bodies of work include the series Isle of Man, Seacoal, Skinningrove and Pirelli.
In 1991 Killip was invited to be a Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard University. In 1994 he was made a tenured professor and was department chair from 1994-98. He retired from Harvard in December 2017 and continued to live in Cambridge, MA, USA, until his death in October, 2020.
His photographs feature in the permanent collections of many major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Museum Folkwang, Essen; the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Tate Britain and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
In 1991 Killip was invited to be a Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard University. In 1994 he was made a tenured professor and was department chair from 1994-98. He retired from Harvard in December 2017 and continued to live in Cambridge, MA, USA, until his death in October, 2020.
His photographs feature in the permanent collections of many major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Museum Folkwang, Essen; the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Tate Britain and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2023
Stat padding with what is basically a photo album . :)
Go to the Baltic NOW!
Go to the Baltic NOW!
January 23, 2023
I'm not one for long and numerous essays in photo books, but this collection of musing and thoughts on Killip's work was an enlightening look into the life of the British photographer. A great book and a great look into the work and life of an important documentary photographer.
October 29, 2025
Chris Killip, one of my favourite artists ever!!! beautiful book and beautiful photographs. The way his work tells a complete story is incredible and admirable.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews