Claude Vanheye (en)

A special selection of his works can be seen for the first time at the Amsterdam Museum. This is a unique collection of photographs of international stars who came to Claude Vanheye's Amsterdam studio over the past forty years. The exhibition is in honour of Vanheye's fortieth year as a professional photographer and the publication of the photography book Claude Vanheye – Famous Popstars in Amsterdam. This book is published by WBooks and will be available for purchase from the museum store.

He was the Netherlands' youngest successful photographer in the 1970s, and a leading figure in the international pop scene. Countless celebrities have posed for his camera in his studios in Amsterdam and Hollywood. His photographs have appeared in many different Dutch and international magazines, and in the form of posters they have hung in the bedrooms of countless teenagers and music lovers. When Claude Vanheye started his own photography studio in May of 1968, he chose to specialise in photographing pop musicians. The first international artists he received in his studio were Ike and Tina Turner. He hit it off so well with the Turners that they invited him to come to Los Angeles. He stayed with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young for a few days and was allowed to take exclusive pictures of their rehearsals for their first major concert at the legendary Woodstock Festival. Back in Amsterdam, Vanheye was more and more in demand with record labels and magazines which wanted him to photograph artists in his studio.

Claude Vanheye is more interested in the person behind the performer than in fame and status. He values mutual trust and respect, and works with the artist to create a beautiful and unique final product. He registers a presence and a truth, and in so doing he combines the exterior appearance of the artist with the true soul of the person. The viewer experiences the art of simplicity and feels the connection of the soul which Vanheye has with the subject.