THE ART OF STAND-UP
Andy Hollingworth
Andy Hollingworth has attained critical acclaim and success in the UK, having spent almost three decades creating distinctive and engaging imagery of famous comedians, documenting their careers and iconic personas for audiences around the world. Marking the first occasion his work will be shown in the United States, The Art of Stand-Up is a comprehensive exhibition featuring over a hundred images–from intimate portraits on location to collaborative studio sessions, as well as candid moments backstage or those captured with precision during comedy shows and performances.
Andy Hollingworth, Julia Masli, 2022.
Andy Hollingworth, Rowan Atkinson, 2009.
Among the many comedians included in the exhibition are Matt Berry, Bo Burnham, Jimmy Carr, Dave Chappelle, Noel Fielding, Ricky Gervais, Rhod Gilbert, Harry Hill, Eric Idle, Suzy Eddie Izzard, Travis Jay, Terry Jones, Steve Martin, Sarah Millican, Ross Noble, Jon Richardson and Tim Vine. Although the comedians featured in the exhibit employ different styles of humor—from slapstick and performance gags to observational comedy and satiree––they all have one thing in common: Andy Hollingworth. Andy’s modest tagline “I photograph comedians” belies his immense talent and the demand for his services. His work has toured in a number of major exhibitions including solo shows at the National Media Museum, the British Library, the Grosvenor Museum and Snap Galleries. Andy’s work has been published in newspapers and magazines around the world and has graced the posters, biographies and digital media for comedians across two continents. His photographs are in a number of important permanent collections including The National Portrait Gallery (London), Bury Art Museum, The Comedy Store, Leicester Comedy Festival and Telford Council.
Andy orchestrates his shoots, choosing backdrops, locations and props that play to the strength of his subjects. This is evident in one of the stand-out images of the show: a sequence of nine images on a contact sheet of Rowan Atkinson, or “Mr. Bean,” his fictitious character who’s always in problematic situations. Seated at a poker table, successive frames reveal an array of facial features that betray the strength of each hand. His exaggerated antics eventually culminate in donning a brown paper bag–a mask necessary to maintain his “poker face.” Other examples include Steve Gribbin sitting in a porcelain tub wearing a Napoleonesque uniform, Harriet Dyer dressed in a red track suit accessorized by a pair of oversized lobster claws, Bill Bailey mimicking the vacant stare of a trio of dolls perched at his shoulder, and a unicorn skull held nonchalantly by Sam Gore. Most bizarre and splendid of all: the latex head of Michael Pennington, better known as Johnny Vegas. This photograph serves as the cover of his autobiography, ‘Becoming Johnny Vegas’.
Andy Hollingworth, Steve Faye, 2022.
There is a tribute to classic entertainers of stage and screen from wild-haired dynamo Ken Dodd, to the wisecracking Mickey Rooney and ‘Scouser Stevie’ Faye. There are also serious portraits on display of James Corden, Andy Osho, Tommy Tiernan and Helen Lederer, among others.
In addition to his portraiture, Andy Hollingworth has documented rare artifacts related to comedy from the nineteenth century to contemporary times. Overall, he has photographed 5,000 objects for his ‘online museum' of comedy-based ephemera, illuminating the intersections between British and American comedy, popular culture and the evolving spirit of stand-up. A number of these are included in the exhibit, attesting to a wide range of comedic achievements: a 1926 Gold Rush movie token and admission ticket from Vaudevillian turned comic-actor Charlie Chaplin, a calling card from impresario Fred Karno––largely credited with developing sketch comedy––and a ticket to a farewell tour performance by Monty Python at the Gaumont Theatre in Southhampton in 1973. Also on display are photographs of famous wardrobe accessories such as Charlie Chaplin’s signature bamboo cane, Stan Laurel’s bowler hat, Billy Connolly’s outrageous banana boots, and a 9” miniature Mork from Ork spacesuit produced by Mattel. Taken as a whole, The Art of Stand-Up showcases the richness and range of Andy Hollingworth’s photographic practice.
Andy Hollingworth, Charlie Chaplin’s Cane, 2017.
A catalogue accompanies this exhibition. In a series of essays, the artist shares personal narratives that reflect on his many interactions and inspirations, and the lasting impact of comedy on his life and career. Catalogues will be available for free at the museum thanks to funding from a Florida Department of Cultural Affairs grant.
This exhibition made possible in part by the generous support of ILFORD Imaging.
Andy Hollingworth, Steve Royle, 2015.
Artist Lecture
The Southeast Museum of Photography hosted a reception for The Art of Stand-Up on Tuesday, October 24 from 6-8 p.m. with an artist lecture by Andy Hollingworth, which was a smashing success! Hollingworth spoke about his experiences as a photographer of world-famous comedians and treated the audience to an exclusive screening of the short film The Last Dance of the Cuckoos, which honors the lives and legacies of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, and heavily features Hollingworth’s photography.
Public Participation
The museum invited guests to tell a joke or share a funny observation via “The Comedy Spot,” a pop-up comedy club located at the entrance to the gallery. The visitors with the best jokes were offered an exclusive opportunity to have their portrait taken by Andy Hollingworth!
