Renowned international art auctioneer and curator Simon de Pury is presenting his first solo photography exhibition in London, marking a significant shift from his celebrated career in the art world to showcasing his own creative work. The exhibition, titled "Blow Up," is currently on display at Leica Gallery London and offers viewers an intimate look at de Pury's photographic journey through cities like Miami, Aspen, and Los Angeles.
In an exclusive interview with Nadine Dinter from the Helmut Newton Foundation, de Pury revealed that his passion for photography began in childhood when his father gave him his first camera. "At first, I mainly took black and white photos of rock formations that I observed during family hikes in the Swiss mountains," de Pury explained. "As an adult, I've always used photography as a way to capture something that visually intrigued me. We all face the inexorable passage of time, and photography offers us the illusion of suspended time."
The current exhibition takes viewers on a visual journey through various locations that have captured de Pury's attention during his extensive travels. When asked about which city or landscape has inspired him most, de Pury noted that Tokyo is probably the city he finds most inspiring, though he constantly discovers fascinating new angles even in Monaco, where he currently resides. "As soon as I see something that catches my attention during my travels around the world, I take a photo," he said. "It drives those who accompany me crazy because I stop every two or three minutes."
De Pury's photographs demonstrate remarkable sharpness and attention to detail, from the complex patterns in "Barbara's Carpet" to the refined atmosphere of "Moonlight Wing Beat." He described one particular moment of inspiration during his first visit to Barbara Becker's home in Miami Beach, where he was completely fascinated by the original interior that Lenny Kravitz had created for her. "Before she could even finish a sentence in her dining room, I was crawling on the floor to photograph her magnificent pink carpet up close," de Pury recalled.
The exhibition's title "Blow Up" is a deliberate reference to one of de Pury's favorite films, Antonioni's masterpiece starring David Hemmings as a photographer loosely inspired by David Bailey. "Looking at a photo I took at night in a London park reminded me of the beautiful scenes from the film," de Pury explained. "Since some of my images are enlarged details, the title seemed appropriate."
Born in Basel, de Pury has led a cosmopolitan life and now resides in Monaco after many years in London. He expressed particular satisfaction that Leica, a name synonymous with excellence in photography history, offered him the opportunity to exhibit his work in their London gallery. "I'm a city person and I love London as much as Berlin, Paris, Moscow, and Geneva, where I've already exhibited, and Monaco, which is like a mini-Hong Kong to me," he said.
De Pury's extensive experience as a curator and art advisor has significantly influenced how he selects and presents his own work. "My professional life requires great rigor in my aesthetic choices and editorial discipline," he noted. "It can be more difficult to take the necessary step back with your own work. In this specific case, I had the privilege of being helped by Lou Proud, the wonderful director of Leica Gallery."
When discussing his current inspirations, de Pury emphasized that curiosity is his driving force. "Nothing excites me more than discovering daily news in the worlds of art, design, photography, architecture, cinema, music, fashion, gastronomy, and sports," he said. "It's the same in life. While we all know how our earthly journey ends, I'm always convinced that the best is yet to come. Once you stop dreaming, it's over!"
Looking toward the future, de Pury highlighted his enthusiasm for Instagram as a tool for sharing his passions. "I love creating portraits of artists in front of their works," he said. "I also like sharing my impressions of the many wonderful places my travels make me discover." For aspiring photographers, his advice is simple yet profound: "Let your creativity run free. You'll automatically develop your own artistic voice!"
The exhibition "Simon de Pury - Blow Up" continues at Leica Gallery London through October 30, 2025. Those interested in following de Pury's ongoing photographic work can find more content on his Instagram account @simondepury.
