What is there to say about a man who barks at dogs, was named after the University of Rome, who called his first automobile "Thank You, Henry," and who once used a bicycle horn to get the attention of Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev?

As Erwitt himself has said, "Maybe I can't be summed up. I hope so."

Elliott Erwitt is a celebrated photographer/filmmaker and a multilingual Globetrotter. Born Elio Romano Ervitz (1928) in Paris to Russian émigré parents, he spent his formative years in Italy and France before moving to Los Angeles via New York in 1939 (just ahead of the tidal wave of fascism that became World War II). Based in New York since the mid-fifties, Erwitt continues to Maintain a remarkable freelance career in all the photographic areas – personal, editorial and commercial – and considers himself to be "unspecialized in a specialized field."

His early influences included Atget and Henri Cartier-Bresson (Cartier-Bresson later became a close friend). Edward Steichen and Roy Stryker were also significant mentors; Steichen secured Erwitt's first commercial assignment and Stryker hired him upon a first meeting in 1946. In 1953 Robert Capa signed him with the legendary MAGNUM agency of which he remains an active member. His books, journalistic essays, and advertisements have been featured in publications around the world and his work has been exhibited at such prestigious institutions as the Smithsonian, MoMA, Kunsthaus in Zurich, and The Art Institute of Chicago. John Szarkowski and P.G. Wodehouse are among those who have written introductions for his books.

Elliott Erwitt is notoriously laconic with a wry sense of humor and is addicted to puns – both literal and visual – as well as to unlikely quotes from great military leaders, as in (Red) Baron von Richthofen's classic reply for success: "First you must overcome the inner Schweinehund."

Join us for a reception and book signing with the artist:
Friday, Nov. 11, 5-8PM