Busacca Gallery

Description:

Original Photographic Poster: Art Photographer George Holz: Claire with Moose Wings, 1986. This high-quality art print poster is meticulously produced to preserve the high-contrast black and white tones and the exceptional detail of the original photograph. Internationally acclaimed for his striking use of light and form, George Holz is a master of visual storytelling. His work bridges the sensual and the surreal, often evoking timeless beauty through unconventional compositions. Claire with Moose Wings is a compelling example of Holz’s ability to transform the human figure into a powerful symbol—merging elegance, myth, and imagination. Influenced by both classical traditions and modern sensibilities, Holz's photographs offer a fresh perspective on the nude, elevating it beyond mere subject into a realm of expressive fine art. His refined eye and visionary approach have made him a defining force in contemporary art photography. George Holz is an American photographer renowned for his masterful use of light, composition, and form—particularly in his evocative nude and portrait photography. Born in Tennessee and raised in a creative environment, Holz studied at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he trained under legendary photographer Helmut Newton. Early in his career, Holz made a name for himself shooting fashion editorials and celebrity portraits for major publications such as Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine. While he achieved commercial success, his fine art photography—especially his black-and-white nudes—garnered critical acclaim for their sensual yet classical aesthetic. Holz's work often explores the intersection of vulnerability and strength, using natural light and organic settings to highlight the timeless beauty of the human form. His photographs reflect a deep respect for art history, drawing inspiration from both Renaissance painting and modernist photography. In 2015, Holz published Holz Hollywood: 30 Years of Portraits, a monograph that showcases his iconic celebrity work, and his fine art has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. With a career that bridges commercial and fine art photography, George Holz continues to be celebrated for his ability to bring elegance, intimacy, and visual poetry to every frame.

Story:

Contemporary nude photography traces its roots to the evolving artistic, cultural, and political landscapes of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Moving beyond classical ideals of beauty and eroticism, contemporary photographers have used the nude to explore themes such as identity, vulnerability, gender, power, and body politics. Influenced by feminist theory, queer culture, and social movements, artists like Nan Goldin, Sally Mann, and Robert Mapplethorpe pushed boundaries by presenting the body in raw, intimate, and often controversial ways. The rise of conceptual art and digital media expanded the genre further, allowing for experimentation with distortion, performance, and self-portraiture. Unlike traditional nude photography, which often idealized the human form, contemporary nude work frequently confronts taboos and challenges societal norms, making it as much about message and context as aesthetics.

Reference:

www.georgeholz.com

GEORGE HOLZ has over twenty years experience and is considered one of the most respected, prolific, and versatile players in the industry. A Grammy Award winning photographer, Holz's celebrity portraiture has cast a wide net, capturing such personalities as Jack Nicholson, Kirsten Dunst, President Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Brad Pitt. Holz also has an impressive presence in the motion picture industry, where he has shot posters for blockbusters including The Generals Daughter, Face Off, and Along Came a Spider. Contrasting elements are playfully and beautifully visible in Holz's fine art work, which reveals the interplay of the human form with landscape and object. In his compelling, often ethereal images of nudes, Holz celebrates the body and compares it to bone and metal, natural and man-made worlds. His willingness to push limits is one he credits to an influential early apprenticeship with the late Helmut Newton. The clarity of this vision has caught the attention of diverse advertising agencies, including a Clio Award-winning series for the International Gold Corporation, as well as work for DeBeers Diamonds, among many. His work can be found in Staley-Wise Gallery in NYC and Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles, as well as many other prominent galleries and museums across the country. Holz travels frequently between his Greenwich Village studio and mountain home in upstate NY, where he lives with his wife and son. His website is