John Benton-Harris Explained

John Benton-Harris (September 28, 1939 – August 26, 2023) was an American photographer and educator who lived and worked in the United Kingdom.

Life and work

John Benton-Harris was born in The Bronx, New York City on September 28, 1939.^{[1] [2]} He worked as an industrial photographer with the Sinclair Oil Corporation for a period from 1961. He then completed mandatory military service as a photographer with the United States Army, in Italy. Afterwards he travelled in Europe, then in 1965 settled in London, working as a staff photographer for London Life magazine. He subsequently worked as a photojournalist for various newspapers and magazines.^{[3] [4] [5]}

In 1987/88 Benton-Harris was appointed adjunct Professor of Photography at the University of Michigan's School of Art.

Benton-Harris died on August 26, 2023, at the age of 83. He never retired, and was working on taking pictures and book projects until shortly before his death.^[6]

Publications

Zines by Benton-Harris

• The English. Southport: Café Royal, 2018. Edition of 250 copies.
• Saint Patrick's People. Southport: Café Royal, 2019. Edition of 250 copies.
• Children of the Troubles: Northern Ireland. Southport: Café Royal, 2020. Edition of 250 copies.
• Walking New York 1961–1981. Southport: Café Royal, 2020. Edition of 250 copies.
• Walking London 1965–1988. Southport: Café Royal, 2021.^[7]

Books edited with others

• Through the Looking Glass: Photographic art in Britain 1945–1989. London: Barbican Art Gallery, 1989. Coedited by Benton-Harris and Gerry Badger. .

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

• A Walk in New York, Impressions Gallery, York, UK, 1973^[8]
• England, St Patrick's Day, Streets of NYC, The Photographers' Gallery, London, 1981/82^[9]

Group exhibitions

• Summer Show 6: Old masters were young once, Serpentine Galleries, London, 1971. Benton-Harris' work was shown on its own in the Print room.^[10]
• Two Views: Photographs of British Towns as Seen by Eight Photographers, The Photographers' Gallery, London, 1973. With work by Benton-Harris, Ian Berry, Colin Curwood, Chris Killip, Josef Koudelka, Ron McCormick, and Christine Pearcey.^[9]
• The Portrait Season, Impressions Gallery, York, UK, 1985. With work by Benton-Harris, Clive Landen, and Philip Sayer.^[11]

Exhibitions co-curated by Benton-Harris

• American Images: Photography 1945 to 1980, Barbican Art Gallery, London, 1985 and touring^[12]
• Through the Looking Glass: Photographic Art in Britain 1945–1989, Barbican Art Gallery, London, 1989; Manchester City Art Gallery, 1989/90^[13]

Collections

Benton-Harris' work is held in the following permanent collections:

• Arts Council Collection, UK: 80 prints (as of September 28, 2021)^[14]
• Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York: 1 print (as of September 28, 2021)^[15]
• Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Illinois: 2 prints (as of September 28, 2021)^[16]
• National Portrait Gallery, London

9 prints (as of September 28, 2021)^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: September 29, 2021. John Benton-Harris . July 31, 2017. APAG - American Photography Archives Group.
2. Web site: September 28, 2021. Ontdek fotograaf John Benton-Harris. rkd.nl.
3. Web site: September 28, 2021. John Benton-Harris. collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
4. Web site: September 28, 2021. The photographer documenting the eccentricities of London street life. September 3, 2021. Huck Magazine.
5. Web site: September 28, 2021. John Benton-Harris. www.johnbenton-harris.com.
6. News: John Benton-Harris obituary . October 23, 2023 . The Guardian . October 23, 2023.
7. Web site: September 28, 2021. The big picture: out to lunch in London, 1974. August 8, 2021. The Guardian.
8. Web site: September 28, 2021. A Walk in New York. collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
9. Web site: The Photographers' Gallery: Exhibition History, 1971 – Present. . . January 28, 2022 .
10. Web site: September 28, 2021. Summer Show 6 [1971]

    Old masters were young once]

    . Serpentine Galleries.
11. Web site: September 29, 2021. The Portrait Season. collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
12. A. Robert. Lee. Shooting America: "American Images: Photography 1945-1980" Barbican Art Gallery, 10 May to 30 June 1985. Journal of American Studies. 1986. 0021-8758. 294–298. 20. 2. 10.1017/S0021875800015085. 27554763. 145447170 .
13. Book: Gerry. Badger. John. Benton-Harris. Barbican Art Gallery. Manchester City Art Gallery. Through the looking glass: photographic art in Britain 1945-1989. 1989. Barbican Art Gallery. London. 9780946372171. Open WorldCat.
14. Web site: September 28, 2021. Benton-Harris, John. www.artscouncilcollection.org.uk.
15. Web site: September 28, 2021. Brooklyn Museum. www.brooklynmuseum.org.
16. Web site: September 28, 2021. Museum of Contemporary Photography. www.mocp.org.
17. Web site: September 28, 2021. John Benton-Harris - National Portrait Gallery. www.npg.org.uk.