Saint Laurent Rive Droite Los Angeles and Saint Laurent Babylone are pleased to host an exhibition by artist Antonio Lopez, featuring a selection of his iconic Instamatic and Polaroid photography, curated by Anthony Vaccarello
Antonio Lopez, born in 1943 in Puerto Rico, was a renowned artist, fashion illustrator and photographer who marked the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with his innovative style and strong influence on fashion and pop culture. His unique style, characterized by dynamic and sensual illustrations, captivated numerous couture houses and magazines. Along with his creative partner Juan Ramos, Antonio Lopez worked for publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and The New York Times, and collaborated with designers like
Yves Saint Laurent, Charles James, and Karl Lagerfeld. Beyond his fashion contributions, Lopez was also known for his relationships with cultural icons and models like Jerry Hall, Grace Jones, and Jessica Lange.
In the early 1970s, while living in Paris, Antonio Lopez began using a Kodak Instamatic camera, and later
a Polaroid SX-70, to document his friends, models, and muses, capturing spontaneous glimpses of his
everyday life and moments where his social and professional circles intersected.
Initially approaching photography as reportage, he quickly became fascinated with it as a means of art
production and visual exploration. Working thematically, he created several iconic series in which a location
or an accessory became a recurring motif—such as ribbons, a red coat, or a shower stall. He would photograph the same subject multiple times, arranging these images into grids reminiscent of film stills
or advertising storyboards.
Antonio Lopez’ Polaroids and Instamatics are more than just images; they are time capsules that contain
the essence of an era defined by a unique and dazzling cultural environment.
This exhibition brings together a rich selection of these series and was realized in collaboration with
The Antonio Archives, whose mission it is to preserve, protect, and celebrate The Estate and Archive
of Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos.
A selection of photography by Antonio Lopez will be exhibited at the Saint Laurent Rive Droite store
in Los Angeles from December 4th to February 3rd and Saint Laurent Babylone in Paris from December
4th to February 2nd.
About SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE
SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE is a creative and cultural destination curated by Anthony Vaccarello, located at 213, rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris,
and extended at 469 Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles.
Named ‘RIVE DROITE’ as a nod to SAINT LAURENT rive gauche line, that helped to democratize fashion and luxury in the sixties.
SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE introduces a brand new retail destination for expression, exchange, and lifestyle, showcasing a wide range of products including exclusive pieces, limited editions, library, vintage, music, photography combined with art, performances, exhibitions, events,and cultural exchanges. Conceptualized by Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello, the extensive and diversified offer from different creative and design fields,
are imagined and embraced in new ways to enlarge the universe and the DNA of Saint Laurent.
SAINT LAURENT BABYLONE is a new incarnation of SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE, a cultural destination and bookstore in the heart of Paris
that offers a diverse and globe-spanning collection of books, art, and music, as well as a new genre of cultural space.
SAINT LAURENT BABYLONE
is located at 9, rue de Grenelle 75007 Paris.
SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE and SAINT LAURENT BABYLONE represent an amusing and chic version of today’s Saint Laurent universe.
saintlaurentrivedroite.com @ysl #saintlaurentrivedroite @anthonyvaccarello
