Peter Beard

Cowley Abbott Auction House Biography and Notes

Peter Beard was an American photographer and diarist best known for his powerful and evocative documentary images of Africa. Born in New York City, Beard’s work often blends photography, painting, drawing, and text, creating unique photo collages that tell compelling stories about the African wilderness and its endangered species. Educated at Yale University, Beard studied art history under the mentorship of renowned abstract painter Josef Albers. His first exhibition at the Blum Helman Gallery in New York City in 1975 marked the beginning of a prolific career. Beard's art gained widespread recognition with landmark museum exhibitions at the International Center of Photography, New York (1977), and the Centre national de la photographie in Paris (1997). His work was also featured in galleries across Berlin, London, Toronto, Madrid, Milan, Tokyo, and Vienna.