
KEVIN CUMMINS

Manchester born Kevin Cummins has an international reputation as one of the world's leading photographers. His iconic portraits of musicians include Joy Division, Liza Minnelli, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Philip Glass, Oasis, and David Bowie. These images have appeared on magazine covers, in art galleries, featured in international films, and are included in the collections of The National Portrait Gallery and The V&A amongst others. Cummins captured key moments in the Manchester music scene and these images helped to define the cultural history of the city. They not only portrayed people and places but created a new way of looking at Manchester and remain embedded in the cultural memory of the north. Bedroom walls all over the world have been, and are, decorated with his work. Cummins has published nine critically acclaimed monographs to date. The most recent: "While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the 90s." published in September 2020. He has lived in London since 1987 but retains strong links with his home city.

Iggy Pop performing on tour supporting his new album ‘Lust for Life’ at the Manchester Apollo, September 25, 1977.
Rock 'n' roll is built on mythology – there’s very little of that now. You can’t make stuff up

Joy Division shot at TJ Davidson’s Rehearsal Room in Manchester in August 1979. Cummins is on record as saying "I'd like to think I saved them from being Bon Jovi; they wanted to be a rock band."