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GARY IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR KEYNOTE SPEAKING AND EVENTS.

GARY HAS CONDUCTED TALKS FOR BANK OF AMERICA, M&C SAATCHI,  APERTURE AUSTRALIA AND MORE.

 

It’s probably not by accident that Gary Heery’s work covers most of the key genres of contemporary photography, from celebrity portraits and advertising, famous actors, artists and musicians, to artful private work of still lives of plants and animals. The breadth of the subjects is a testament to the reality of being a working photographer today – versatility is key. 

But what sets Heery’s work apart is his keen eye for what could be an iconic image, a picture that’s both ineffably of the zeitgeist, but which is also imbued with a knowing sense of the classical. Take for example Heery’s portrait of Madonna, an image that would be used as the cover of her self-titled debut album in 1983. The styling of the picture, the musician’s pose, her hair, hands, but most importantly her eyes, draw the viewer back, again and again, to what could easily be a picture from the 1920s, yet one that speaks loudly of New York at the start of the go-go 80s. Heery’s portraits of Cate Blanchett – a winner of the Head On Photographic Prize - and pop icon Andy Warhol capture the essence of their individual personalities, and achieve an unusual intimacy with the subject.

Heery works in series, dedicating himself over the course of a year or more to closely exploring subjects that might end up as a book or as an exhibition. His ongoing studies of horses are seductive images charged with the essence of these beautiful animals in moments of dramatic action, images only possible because of the fast shutter speed of modern cameras, but again suggesting classical sculptures, and the horse paintings of English romantics such as George Stubbs.

Heery’s work has evolved from his early career in analogue, dark room photography through the late 1990s and the introduction of digital technologies, to today when he is widely acknowledged as one of Australia’s leading contemporary photographers. His dedication to his craft is phenomenal, yet it’s his unerring eye for a picture, and his subject, that marks him out as a true artist.

Andrew Frost 
Art critic, writer and documentary maker.

 

FOR BOOKINGS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Matt Chee
matt@cheeproducrions.com

“I want to thank Gary for the extraordinary presentation he gave our clients and senior staff. The feedback we received was phenomenal - I received several notes from clients and staff who really appreciated the unique historical journey he took them on, and the interesting stories he shared about his life’s work and individual subjects. Even better, many commented on how his passion and authenticity really shined through on the night. I couldn’t agree more - and as far as corporate events goes, this was one of our best so far, it was the right combination of sophistication, fun, and truly differentiated.  That combination resulted in a night that was memorable, which helps create a lasting bond between our staff and clients - exactly what we hoped to achieve on the night.”

JOE FAYYAD, BANK OF AMERICA
AUSTRALIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

“I knew Gary Heery as a brilliant photographer, having worked with him here and internationally. But when I invited him to speak at a dinner with a guest list of 20 senior Woolworths and M&C Saatchi management, I also discovered that he is a brilliant raconteur. He beguiled the guests with tales of his extraordinary career. His beautiful photography got them thinking. His repartee got them talking. And his wit kept them laughing. A flood of emails from guests the next morning confirmed the success of the evening.”

TOM MCFARLANE, M&C SAATCHI
FOUNDING CREATIVE PARTNER

“I had the pleasure of enlisting Gary Heery to be a keynote speaker at the inaugural Aperture Australia Photography Conference. Gary’s presentation was world class, his industry knowledge and experience left the crowd inspired and motivated through his sheer passion and dedication to his craft. From personal stories of dealing with celebrity clients through to the thought process that goes into developing a series, Gary really has an incredible energy and a unique way of presenting the amazing stories of his journey through the photographic world. I could not recommend him enough.”

GLENN MCKIMMIN
APERTURE AUSTRALIA