Beverly Hills, L.A. Gagosian Gallery is ready to display 36 recently rediscovered photographs of The Beatles, all captured by Paul McCartney. The exhibition will open in Spring 2025 (Apr 25–June 21).
As reports note, a mix of black-and-white and color prints, the McCartney photos (many of which have never been on view before) were shot during peak of Beatlemania, from December 1963 to February 1964 in a globe-spanning list of locations: Liverpool, London, Paris, New York, Miami and Washington, D.C. Expect to see a mix of self-portraits of Paul and candid shots of John, George and Ringo—as well as some scenes where the camera has been turned toward the hysterical fans waiting outside the windows of the band’s car.
In honor of the exhibition, Gagosian director Joshua Chuang has worked with McCartney to produce limited edition, individually signed prints. A portion of the proceeds will support wildfire recovery efforts.
At the same time, the Gagosian show coincides with Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–1964: Eyes of the Storm, a touring, London-originating exhibition that just opened at San Francisco’s de Young on March 1.
Official Press Release Reads:
Gagosian is pleased to announce an exhibition of recently rediscovered photographs by Paul McCartney—including some previously unseen—at its gallery in Beverly Hills. Featuring thirty-six works composed of images taken between December 1963 and February 1964, it offers an indelible snapshot of Beatlemania as it was becoming a global phenomenon. McCartney has collaborated with Gagosian to produce the prints in small editions and has signed each one. Incorporating pictures shot in Liverpool; London; Paris; New York; Washington, DC; and Miami, the exhibition is on view from April 25 to June 21, 2025. A portion of sale proceeds will be donated to support ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in Southern California following the recent devastating wildfires.
Evoking a key interval in twentieth-century cultural history, the photographs embody a poignant intersection of time, place, and personality. Taken together, they form a significant contribution to the visual record of the era, not only due to their unique perspective, but also because they demonstrate McCartney’s natural talent as a photographer. The mix of black-and-white and color prints includes self-portraits, unguarded portraits of McCartney’s bandmates, and views of the pandemonium that greeted them at every turn. Some of the most compelling photographs portray dramatic scenes glimpsed through the windows of moving vehicles as McCartney and his fellow Beatles were whisked from one appearance to the next.
The exhibition in Beverly Hills is designed by Stefan Beckman, who previously worked with the gallery on exhibition designs for Avedon 100 at Gagosian New York (2023) and Jean-Michel Basquiat: Made on Market Street at Gagosian Beverly Hills (2024). It coincides with the touring exhibition Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, which debuted at the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2023 and will open at the de Young Museum in San Francisco on March 1, 2025.
