Chris von Wangenheim’s photographs of the glamour and excess of the 1970s

Date
21 September 2015

With chapter headings like Jet Set, Chaos and Porno Chic and photographs of the likes of Bianca Jagger and supermodel Gia Carangi, Gloss: The Work of Chris von Wangenheim , the monograph of the photographer’s work, has everything from burning cars and aggressive Doberman dogs to wind machines and copious halter-necks. Emblematic of the sexual revolution and Studio 54-era, and documenting the glamour and excess of the 1970s, his photographs strike a balance of provocative humour with challenging, sometimes harrowing narratives, drawing attention to the lives beneath the gloss of the era.

Having moved from Berlin to New York in 1965 to pursue a career in photography, which swiftly led to his shooting for American Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Interview and Playboy , Chris von Wangenheim’s photographs captured a period of sassy realness.

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Chris von Wangenheim: Regine and Juli, 1976

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Left

Chris von Wangenheim: Joe and Kalani, 1975

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Chris von Wangenheim: Bianca Jagger, 1977

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Chris von Wangenheim: Bianca Jagger, 1977

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Left

Gloss: The Work of Chris von Wangenheim, published by Rizzoli

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Chris von Wangenheim: Gia, 1978

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Chris von Wangenheim: Gia, 1978

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Chris von Wangenheim: Lisa Taylor and Whiskey, 1976

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About the Author

Billie Muraben

Billie studied illustration at Camberwell College of Art before completing an MA in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art. She joined It’s Nice That as a Freelance Editorial Assistant back in January 2015 and continues to work with us on a freelance basis.

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