Exhibitions
Exhibitions at the State Library of New South Wales – current, past and future – seek to engage audiences with the extraordinary range, breadth and depth of our collections.
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Nelson Meers Foundation
The Nelson Meers Foundation supports the State Library of New South Wales in presenting its outstanding collection of rare and historic items to the Australian public through the Heritage Collection series.
What A Life! Rock photography by Tony Mott
- Open:
- 17 October 2015 – 7 February 2016
- Venue:
- Mitchell & Dixson Galleries
Australia's premier rock photographer, Tony Mott has captured all aspects of the rock and roll lifestyle through his camera lens. An untrained photographer, he got his break with a photograph of Chrissy Amphlett, lead singer of the band Divinyls, and went on to become Australia’s leading rock photographer. Mott has had over 30,000 photographs published in 20 countries and his images have appeared on the covers of 500 CDs, 400 posters and more than 900 magazines. Mott was the photographer the bands asked for and his portfolio features the biggest and greatest names in music such as the Rolling Stones, Madonna and U2 as well as the rich and varied NSW independent band scene. From candid portraits to awe inspiring live shots Mott has a unique ability to connect with his subject.
Through the photography of Tony Mott the enormous changes in the music industry in Australia over the last twenty years can be tracked. The death of music street press, the loss of music venues as well the change to digital photography have all affected the music scene and as a consequence the art of rock photography.
Image: Björk by Tony Mott, 1994
View the What A Life! Rock photography by Tony Mott exhibition ›