Biography

1920: born in Berlin as Helmut Neustädter; resides in Berlin-Schöneberg.

1930 until 1934: attends school at the Heinrich von Treitschke Realgymnasium in Berlin-Schöneberg.

1934 until 1938: resides in Berlin-Halensee.

1934 until 1935: attends the American school in Berlin-Schöneberg. After change of residence, attends secondary school in Berlin-Grunewald.

1936 until 1938: apprenticeship with the portrait, nude and fashion photographer Yva (Else Simon, neé Neuländer) in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

1938: flees Berlin via train at Zoo station towards Trieste, taking with him two stills cameras. Finds work in Singapore at the Singapore Straits Times.

1940: arrives in Australia and serves for five years in the Australian army. In 1946 becomes an Australian citizen.

1947: meets actress June Brunell, who poses as a model for him. They marry one year later.

1956: extended travels through Europe. In London acquires a one-year contract at British Vogue, which Newton quits after 11 months. Thereafter in Paris and return to Melbourne; contract with Australian Vogue.

1961: back to Paris, takes apartment in the Rue Aubriot in Marais quarter. Full-time position with French Vogue, occasional editorial photography for British Vogue and Queen.

1964: until 1966 editorials for French Elle.

1964: acquires a small house and vineyard in Ramatuelle, not far from St. Tropez, where Helmut and June Newton will spend their future vacations.

1966: renews contract with French Vogue under the new editor-in-chief Francine Crescent.

1970: June Newton (alias Alice Springs) begins her career as a photographer: when her husband is ill, she steps in to shoot a cigarette advertisement.

1971: Helmut Newton suffers a heart attack in New York. Convalescence in Lennox Hill Hospital, New York.

1975: first exhibitions of the commercially successful photographer: first solo exhibit in the Nikon Gallery in Paris.

1976: publication of his first volume of photographs White Women.

1981: Helmut and June Newton move from Paris to Monaco; they will spend the winter months in Los Angeles.

1990: awarded the French “Grand Prix National de la Photographie.”

1992: awarded “Officier des Arts, Lettres et Sciences” in Monaco as well as presentation of the “The Grand Cross of Merit” (Das Grosse Bundesverdienstkreuz) of the Federal Republic of Germany.

1996: commendation to “Commandeur de L’Ordre des Arts et Lettres” by the French ministry of culture.

2000: large retrospective for his 80th birthday in the New National Gallery (Neue Nationalgalerie) in Berlin that travels to London, New York, Tokyo, Moscow and Prague, among others.

2003: formal agreement on the establishment of the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz).

2004: Helmut Newton dies in Los Angeles. The Helmut Newton Foundation is opened shortly following his death.

Publications

As a photographer who straddled the gap between art and commerce, Helmut Newton always managed to surprise and polarize his audience. Among the editorial staff of many magazines he encountered creative kindred spirits, who responded to his unusual visual ideas. The result was a body of photographs that was not only exceptionally recognizable and successful but also reached millions of viewers through magazine publications.

White Women / Femmes Secrètes
New York: Congreve, 1976
London: Quartet Books, 1976
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1976
Paris: Robert Laffont, 1976

Sleepless nights / Nuits Blanches
New York: Congreve, 1978
London: Quartet Books, 1978
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1978
Paris: Filipacchi, 1978

24 Photos Lithos. Special Collection
New York: Congreve, 1979
London: Quartet Books, 1979
München: Rogner & Bernhard, 1980
Paris: Filipacchi, 1980

Big Nudes. 47 Nudes / Big Nudes
Paris: Éditions du Regard, 1981
London: Thames & Hudson 1981
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1982
New York: Xavier Moreau, 1984

Double Elephant Portfolio
Portfolio with 15 original photographs, limited edition of 50
New York: Double Elephant Press 1981

Helmut Newton. Mode et Portraits
Paris: Musée d’Art Moderne, 1984

World Without Men
New York: Xavier Moreau, 1984
Paris: Filipacchi, 1984
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1984

Private Property (Suites I, II and III)
Portfolio with 45 original photographs, limited Edition of 75, 1984

Helmut Newton
Paris: Photo-Poche, Centre National de la Photographie, 1986
Heidelberg: Edition Braus, 2006

Portretten / Portraits
Amsterdam: Stichting Foto, 1986

Helmut Newton. Portraits
New York: Pantheon, 1987
Paris: Edition Fernand Nathan, 1987
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1987
London: Quartet Books, 1987

Helmut Newton’s Illustrated N°1 (Sex and Power)
New York: Xavier Moreau, 1987

Helmut Newton’s Illustrated N°2 (Pictures from an Exhibition)
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1987

Helmut Newton. Nouvelles Images / New Images / Nuevas Imagenes
Paris: Paris Audiovisuel, 1988
Bologna: Galleria d’Arte Moderna / Grafis Edizioni, 1989
Madrid: Fundación Caja de Pensiones, 1989

Helmut Newton in Moscow. The Photographic Work
Moskau: Puschkin Museum, 1989

Helmut Newton. Private Property
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1989

Helmut Newton / Jan Fabre: Das Glas im Kopf wird vom Glas
Gent: Imschoot, 1990

Helmut Newton’s Illustrated N°3 (I was there)
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1991

Archives de Nuit
Paris: Hazan Editions, 1992
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1993

VIP. Very Important Portraits
Mailand: Photology, 1992

Helmut Newton. Pola Woman
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1992

Naked & Dressed in Hollywood
Los Angeles: Pascal de Sarthe Gallery, 1992

Eroticism in the 20th Century
Tokio: Goro Kuramochi, 1992

Helmut Newton. Aus dem photographischen Werk
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1993

Vanités
Paris: Centre Nationale de la Photographie, 1993

Regard d’Artistes sur la Femme
Paris: Hotel de la Monnaie, 1993

Immorale
Tokio: Kodansha, 1993

Mes Derniers Nus
Paris: Galerie Robert Vallois, 1994

Photography
Tokio: Odakyu Museum / Goro Kuramochi, 1995

Helmut Newton’s Illustrated N°4 (Dr. Phantasme)
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1996

The Best of Helmut Newton
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 1996

72 Ore a Roma
Rom: Peliti, 1998

Pages from the Glossies
Zürich: Scalo, 1998

Us and Them (Helmut Newton / Alice Springs)
Zürich: Scalo, 1998

Anton Josef Trcka, Edward Weston, Helmut Newton
Die Künstlichkeit des Wirklichen / The Artificial of the Real
Zürich: Scalo, 1998

Helmut Newton’s Sumo
Köln: Taschen, 1999

Helmut Newton’s Illustrated N°1 – N°4
Complete Edition
München: Schirmer / Mosel, 2000

Helmut Newton. Work
Köln: Taschen, 2000 (Reprint 2018)

Sex and Landscapes
Zürich: de Pury & Luxembourg, 2001
Salzburg: Rupertinum, 2002
Köln: Taschen, 2004

Helmut Newton Autobiography
München: C. Bertelsmann, 2002
New York: Random House, Doubleday, 2003
London: Duckworth, 2003
Tokio: Ed. Treville, 2003
Madrid: Editorial RM, 2003
Moskau: Eksmo, 2003
Rom: Contrasto, 2003
Korea: Eulyoo Publishing, 2003
Bratislava: Slovart Publishing, 2003
Paris: Robert Laffont, 2004
Warschau: Wydawnictwo, 2005

Yellow Press
Zürich: de Pury & Luxembourg, 2002

A Gun for Hire
London: Ivory Press, 2005
Köln: Taschen, 2005

Pigozzi and the Paparazzi
With Salomon, Weegee, Galella, Angeli, Secchiaroli, Quinn, and Newton

Exhibition Catalogue, Berlin: Helmut Newton Foundation, 2008

Fired
Exhibition Catalogue, Berlin: Helmut Newton Foundation, 2008

Polaroids
Köln: Taschen, 2011

The Stern Years 1973-2000
Hamburg: Gruner & Jahr, 2011

White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes
Exhibition Catalogue, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 2011

Helmut Newton 1920-2004
Exhibition Catalogue, Grand Palais Paris, 2012

Helmut Newton. Pages from the Glossies. Faksimiles 1956-1998
Köln: Taschen, 2015

Helmut Newton. White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes
Exhibition Catalogue, Venice Tre Oci, Venice: Marsilio, 2016

Alice Springs / Helmut Newton, Us and Them
Köln: Taschen, 2016

Helmut Newton. A Gun for Hire, selection
Exhibition Catalogue, Venice: Marsilio, 2016

Helmut Newton. Monte Carlo
Paris: Louis Vuitton, 2017

Helmut Newton. Magnifier le désastre
By Dominique Baqué, Paris: Editions du Regard, 2019

Helmut Newton. I like strong women
Exhibition Catalogue, Center for Contemporary Arts, Torun, 2020

Helmut Newton. Visionari
La Repubblica/National Geographic Italy, Gedi: Torino 2020

Helmut Newton. High Gloss
Exhibition Catalogue, Hamiltons Gallery, London 2020

Helmut Newton. Legacy
Köln: Taschen, 2021

Newton, Riviera
Paris: Gallimard, 2022

Helmut Newton. Fact & Fiction
Exhibition Catalogue MOP Foundation, La Coruña, 2023

Exhibitions

1975
Canon Gallery, Amsterdam
Galerie Nikon, Paris

1976
Helmut Newton / Hideki Fujii, Photographers’ Gallery, London
Nicholas Wilder Gallery, Los Angeles
Pentax Gallery, Tokyo

1978
Marlborough Gallery, New York

1979
American Center, Paris
Helmut Newton, Canon Gallery, Geneva

1980
G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Los Angeles
Helmut Newton. Special Collection, Galerie Watari, Tokyo

1981
Grands Nus, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris
Helmut Newton. Fotografie 1980-81, Studio Marconi, Milan

1982
Helmut Newton. Fotos 1980-81, Galerie Denise René-Hans Meyer, Dusseldorf
Marlborough Gallery, New York
Galerie Tanit, Munich
Thomas Levi Galerie, Hamburg
Photokina, Cologne
Helmut Newton Photographs ‘80-82, The Columbia College Galleries, Chicago

1983
Gallery Asher-Faune, Los Angeles
Big Nudes, G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Los Angeles
31 Nudes. Photographs 1980-1981, Olympus Gallery, London
Private Property, Hamiltons Gallery, London

1984
Photographies de Mode, Musée de Beau Arts Jules Chéret, Nice
La Moda / I Grandi Nudi, Museo Palazzo Fortuny, Venice
Private Property, G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Los Angeles
Mode et Portrait, Musée d´Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Private Property. 3 Portfolios, Christian Cheneau Galerie, Paris

1985
New Work, G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Los Angeles
Retrospektive, Museo dell´Automobile, Turin
Monte Carlo, Galerie Artis, Monte Carlo

1986
Portretten / Portraits, Foto Foundation, Amsterdam
Retrospektive, Palais de l’Europe, Menton

1987
Retrospektive, Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Bonn
Nus Inédits, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris
Retrospektive, Musee de Groninque, Groningen
Sie Kommen, Fotografie Forum, Frankfurt

1988
Retrospektive, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Vienna
Retrospektive, Forum Böttcherstraße, Bremen
Retrospektive, Berlinische Galerie im Martin-Gropius Bau, Berlin
Neue Akte, Galerie Reckermann, Photokina, Cologne
New Nudes, Hamiltons Gallery, London
Helmut Newton. Nouvelles Images, Espace Photographique de Paris Audiovisuell, Paris
Helmut Newton. Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, London
Private Property, Olympus Galerie, Hamburg

1989
Fashion Photographs & Portraits, Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tokyo
Fashion Photographs & Portraits, Seibu Art Museum, Funabashi
Fashion Photographs & Portraits, Prefectural Museum of Art, Fukuoka
Helmut Newton. Nuevas Imágenes, Fundacion Caja de Pensiones, Madrid
Helmut Newton In Moscow, Puschkin Museum & Perwaia Galeria, Moscow
Helmut Newton. New Images, Galleria d´Arte Moderna, Bologna
Helmut Newton. New Images, Carlsberg Glyptothek Gallery, Copenhagen

1990
Kunstform Galerie, Vienna
Helmut Newton Fotografie, Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig
Fashion Photographs & Portraits, Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Shiga
Helmut Newton, Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta
Dressed And Naked, Studio Trisorio, Naples

1991
Fashion Photographs & Portraits, Museum of Modern Art, Bratislava
Biennale, Lyon
Naked & Dressed, Hamiltons Gallery, London

1992
Naked & Dressed in Hollywood, Pascal de Sarthe Gallery, Los Angeles
Eroticism In The 20th Century, Aoyama Bell Commons, Tokyo
Eroticism In The 20th Century, Mitsubishi – Jisho Artium, Fukuoka
Archives de Nuit, Crédit Foncier de France, Paris
Pina Bausch und das Tanztheater Wuppertal, Galerie 54 Ferdinand Zimmermann, Munich
V.I.P. Very Important Portraits, Miramonti Majestic Grand Hotel, Cortina d´Ampezzo

1993
Helmut Newton. Ritratti di Donna, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan
Archives de Nuit, Villa Médicis, Rome
Moda e Ritratto, Centre Culturel Français de Rome, Rome
Helmut Newton. Aus dem photographischem Werk, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg
Eroticism in the 20th Century, Navio Museum, Osaka

1994
Archives de Nuit, Centro Andaluz de la Fotografia, Almeria
Archives de Nuit, Institute Français de Prague, Prague
Mes Derniers Nus, Galerie Robert Vallois, Paris
Helmut Newton. Aus dem photographischem Werk, Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop
Helmut Newton. Aus dem photographischem Werk, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Winterthur
Helmut Newton. Aus dem photographischem Werk, Castello di Rivoli, Turin
New Editions + Retrospective Prints, Gallery Sho Contemporary Art, Tokyo
Helmut Newton, Fuji Salon, Tokyo
Eva im Bilde, Galerie Claire Fontaine, Luxembourg

1995
Archives du Nuit, Galerie Pierre Nouvion, Monte Carlo
Snap-Shot In Eroticism, Odakyu Museum, Tokyo
Nude Works 1992-1995, Hamiltons Gallery, London
Private Property, Photology, Milan
Helmut Newtons Frauen, Galerie Kaess-Weiss, Stuttgart

1996
Snap-Shot In Eroticism, Navio Museum, Osaka
Impressions & Polaroids, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan
Artforum Vilka Gallery, Thessaloniki
Fashion And Fantasy, A Gallery for Fine Photography, New Orleans
Helmut Newton, Gallery Kajikawa, Kyoto

1997
Photographien, Camera Work, Berlin
Helmut Newton In Sweden, Hasselblad Foundation, Gothenburg

1998
From My Archives (67 New Portraits), Visa pour l’Image, Perpignan
72 Ore a Roma, Galleria Municipale, Rome

1999
Architecture And Pornography, Castello di Rivoli, Turin
Archives de Nuit, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich

2000
Helmut Newton. Work, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin

2001
Helmut Newton. Work, Barbican, London
Sex And Landscapes, Galerie de Pury & Luxembourg, Zurich
Sex And Landscapes, Mary Boone Gallery, New York
Helmut Newton. Work, International Center of Photography, New York
Helmut Newton. Work, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg
Sumo, Galeria Moises Perez de Albeniz, Pamplona
Portraits, Fashion And Nudes, Staley-Wise Gallery, New York

2002
Sex And Landscapes, Rupertinum, Salzburg
Sex And Landscapes, Ludwig Museum, Budapest
Sex And Landscapes, The Major Gallery, London
Sex And Landscapes, New and Unknown Works, Galerie Hans Meyer, Dusseldorf
Sex And Landscapes, Galleria Gió Marconi, Milan
Sie Kommen, Andreas Baumgartl Galerie, Munich
Sex And Landscapes, Galerie Kaess-Weiss, Stuttgart
Yellow Press, Galerie de Pury & Luxembourg, Zurich
Helmut Newton. Work, Kunsthalle Krems, Krems
Helmut Newton. Work, Photo España, Madrid
Helmut Newton. Work, Daimura Museum, Osaka & Tokyo
Welcome To Berlin, Galerie Kicken, Berlin

2003
Sex And Landscapes, Rosalyne, Making of the Big Nudes and Polaroids, A Gallery for Fine Art Photography, New Orleans
Retrospective, House of Photography, Moscow
Sex And Landscapes, Aidan Gallery, Moscow
Helmut Newton. Work, NRW Forum, Dusseldorf
Yellow Press, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan
Sex And Landscapes, Yellow Press, Arken Museum, Copenhagen
Yellow Press, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris
Big Nudes, Hamiltons Gallery, London
Love Affair, Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg
Helmut Newton. Work, Leica Gallery, Prague

2004
Sex and Landscapes, Yellow Press, Retretti Art Center, Kunsthalle Helsinki
Photographs, Gagosian Gallery, Beverly Hills
Sex and Landscapes, Us and Them (Helmut Newton / Alice Springs), Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton’s Private Property, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton Polaroids, Camera Work, Berlin
Helmut Newton 01232004. Hommage to his Soul, Gallery Sho Contemporary Art, Tokyo

2005
A Gun For Hire, Grimaldi Forum, Monte Carlo
A Gun For Hire, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Sex And Landscapes, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Munich
Newtoniana, Photology, Milan

2006
Sex And Landscapes, Palazzo Reale, Milan
Men, War And Peace. Newton, Nachtwey, La Chapelle, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Fashion Works. Vintage- & Contactprints 1962-1985, Galerie Johannes Faber, Vienna
Yellow Press. Playboy Projections, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2007
Helmut Newton, Cook Fine Art, New York
72 Ore a Roma, Shenker Culure Club, Turin
Wanted. Helmut Newton, Larry Clark, Ralph Gibson, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton: XL, Hamiltons Gallery, London

2008
Helmut Newton, La Fábrica Galería, Madrid
Werke aus einer Bremer Privatsammlung, Weserburg Museum, Bremen
Pigozzi And The Paparazzi, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Fired, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2009
Werke aus einer Bremer Privatsammlung, Graphikmuseum Pablo Picasso, Munster
Helmut Newton, Hamiltons Gallery, London
Sumo, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2011
Selected Works, Hamiltons Gallery, London
Werke aus einer Bremer Privatsammlung, Kunsthaus Apolda, Apolda
Helmut Newton. Polaroids, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton: White Women, Sleepless Nights, Big Nudes, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

2012
Helmut Newton 1920-2004, Grand Palais, Paris
Helmut Newton. White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. World Without Men / Archives De Nuit, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2013
Helmut Newton, Onassis Foundation, Athens
Helmut Newton, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Helmut Newton, Fotografiska Museet, Stockholm
Helmut Newton. White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes, Palazzo delle Espositioni, Rome
Helmut Newton. White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes, Annenberg Space for Photography, Los Angeles
Helmut Newton. Paris Berlin. Exhibition Grand Palais 2012, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2014
Helmut Newton / Alice Springs. Us And Them / Helmut Newton. Sex And Landscapes, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Permanent Loan Selection, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2015
Newton. Horvat. Brodziak, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Pages From The Glossies / Greg Gorman. Color Works, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2016
Alice Springs. The MEP Show / Helmut Newton. Yellow Press / Mart Engelen. Portraits, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Fotografie: White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes, Tre Oci, Venice
Helmut Newton. A Retrospective, Foam, Amsterdam
Helmut Newton. Fotografie: White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes, Palazzo Ducale, Genova
Helmut Newton. A Gun for Hire, selection, Palazzo Dei Pio, Carpi

2017
Helmut Newton. Icônes, Musée de la Photographie, Nice
Helmut Newton. White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes, PAN, Naples
Mario Testino. Undressed / Helmut Newton. Unseen / Jean Pigozzi. Pool Party, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2018
Between Art & Fashion. Photographs From The Collection of Carla Sozzani, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Private Property, 10 Corso Como, New York

2019
Saul Leiter / David Lynch / Helmut Newton. Nudes, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Private Property, 10 Corso Como, Seoul
Helmut Newton, Museo d’arte moderno e contemporaneo, San Gimignano
SUMO / Three Boys from Pasadena / Private Photo Collection, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Body Performance, Group Show, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Private Property, Modem Museum, Debrecen

2020
Helmut Newton, Work, GAM, Turin
Helmut Newton, SUMO, Ernst Barlach Museum, Wedel
America 1970s/80s. Evelyn Hofer, Sheila Metzner, Joel Meyerowitz, Helmut Newton, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton, I Love Strong Women, Center for Contemporary Arts, Torun
Helmut Newton. High Gloss, Hamiltons Gallery, London

2021
Helmut Newton. Legacy, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Muses, Galerie Andrea Caratsch, St. Moritz
Helmut Newton, Erarta Museum, Saint Petersburg

2022
Helmut Newton: In Focus, Jewish Museum of Australia, Melbourne
Helmut Newton. Private Property, FotoNostrum, Barcelona
Newton’s Riviera, NMNM, Villa Sauber, Monaco
Hollywood, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Legacy, Kunstforum, Vienna
Helmut Newton. Legacy, Ravelingen, Knokke-Heist
Helmut Newton. Brands, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

2023
Alice Springs. Retrospective, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin
Helmut Newton. Legacy, Palazzo Reale, Milano
Helmut Newton. Legacy, Museo dell’Ara Pacis, Rom
Helmut Newton. Fact & Fiction, MOP Foundation, La Coruña

Alice Springs, Chateau Marmont, Hollywood, 1991