Helmut Newton’s photography is instantly recognisable: those statuesque and sultry models, postures as solid as stainless steel. His portraiture of celebrities like Grace Jones, Susan Sarandon and David Bowie remains incredibly influential, encouraging photographers to render their portraits in an iconic, cinematic style. But it’s partly because his style is so distinct that, according to those behind this retrospective, “his work is often all too quickly and simply pigeon-holed, and why there’s insufficient appreciation of the intrinsic complexity and multi-layered nature of his oeuvre.”

The retrospective takes over the entire building and features over 200 works, from rare, small prints to massive photos. Hopefully seeing all these incredible works together at once will allow a more sophisticated appreciation of his work – you'll see how he played with and subverted notions of power and femininity, money and lust. Helmet by June, a documentary made by Newton’s wife, June, will also be shown.


SELF PORTRAIT WITH WIFE AND MODELS, VOGUE STUDIO, PARIS 1981 © HELMET. NEWTON ESTATE/MACONOCHIE PHOTOGRAPHY

In the decadent years of the 1980s, to be photographed by Helmet Newton was the “ultimate proof of social success”. Head to Foam to find out why.