Founded in 1946 in London, Marlborough is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries. In the 1970s, Marlborough became a pioneer in elevating photography into the realm of fine art by programming a series of exhibitions at its New York and London galleries. Between 1975 and 1977, ten exhibitions devoted to the work of Richard Avedon, Brassaï, Bill Brandt, Berenice Abbott, and Irving Penn were mounted. The photography department was helmed by Paul Katz, who had been hired in 1975 through Norman Hall, the influential picture editor of British Journal of Photography Annual and the London Times.

Throughout the past three years, the gallery has mounted presentations that celebrated the brief, but critical, role the gallery played in the 1970s and 80s as a pioneer at the forefront of exhibiting and selling photographs. Many of the photographs available had not been seen in some forty years and are from the gallery’s extensive collection.

Marlborough’s program continues to highlight historical shows and artist estates alongside leading contemporary artists.