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Beth Ostrosky Stern. (Photo: Annie Watt) |
Acclaimed and much loved celebrity and society photographer Annie Watt, a familiar face in the New York social and commercial art scenes will unveil her first solo exhibition at the Galerie Dumonteil in New York City. On display from Wednesday, December 10, 2014 to Saturday, January 10, 2015, the exhibit will kickoff with an Invitation-Only opening reception hosted by a number of the city’s social glitterati including Geoffrey Bradfield, Barbara and Donald Tober, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Eleanora and Michael Kennedy and Ambassador John Loeb and Sharon Handler Loeb. The show, “Impromptu Portraits” will feature imagery of internationally known A-listers as well as fascinating images of people from around the world culled from Annie’s extensive body of work, which currently consists of over 950,000 photographs. Stars of stage and screen, social dynamos, power brokers, fashion designers, great chefs and restaurateurs, drag queens and media notables have all been the focus of Watt’s lens.
Among the famous faces featured in this show who have posed happily for Watt at the most exclusive galas, premieres, and elegant parties are Bill Clinton, Neil Patrick Harris, Oscar de la Renta, Barbara Walters, Prince Andrew, Spike Lee, Whoopi Goldberg, Iris Apfel, Diane von Furstenberg, Donald Trump, Donna Karan, Dr. Oz, Henry Kissinger, Hugh Jackman, James Earl Jones, Christie Brinkley, Candice Bergen, Bruce Weber, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, Catherine Zeta Jones, Hilary Clinton, Donatella Versace, Janet Jackson, Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Gloria Steinem, Itzhak Perlman, Jane Fonda, Joan Rivers, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Paris Hilton, Robert De Niro, Sirio Maccioni, Sarah the Duchess of York, Sir Elton John, Walt Frazier, Wynton Marsalis, Zubin Mehta and ZZ Top.
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Jean Shafiroff and Bill Cunningham. (Photo: Annie Watt) |
“Impromptu Portraits” will exhibit in New York before the show travels to Paris and Shanghai. Proceeds from the opening reception will benefit the American Heart Association. The show is curated by Michael McAuliffe.
Over the last decade, Annie Watt has become the “go-to lenser” for savvy event producers and chairladies around the country. Her unique ability to put her subjects at ease, and give them a crash course in posing – even to the most frequent red carpet figures, helps her glamorous subjects put their best face forward. Her gentle reminders and subtle advice to her subjects have earned her the moniker of ‘The Posing Expert.’
One of Annie’s biggest asset as a photographer is that her clients trust her to present them in the most flattering light. Her photography style has an emphasis on capturing candid photos in addition to the standard posed shots showing people smiling into the camera.
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Celebrity photographer Annie Watt caught in front of photo fellow lenser Ellen Graham. (Courtesy Photo) |
She does this with an ease and grace that has won her legions of admirers, not only among the high profile subjects she photographs, but also the top society hostesses, event planners and the media with whom she enjoys extraordinary relationships.
Annie’s path to the Galerie Dumonteil consisted of an artistic spirit combined with a pragmatic business sense and a singular drive to succeed. In high school, her love of the arts, combined with a determined work ethic and impressive academics, won her a four-year full tuition scholarship at the world renowned School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, and the opportunity to study with such notable artists as Chuck Close, Paul Wagner, Jack Potter and Milton Glaser. After graduation, she continued her education and received a teaching certification from Hunter College, and pursued a Masters in Art History at Alfred University in Scotland.
Her philosophy is “doing well by doing good,” covering hundreds of charitable functions each year and donating a portion of the proceeds of print sales to the fund-raising organization. As a result, Annie’s bright smile and unflagging professionalism continue to make her one of the most welcome photographers at any A-list event.
Galerie Dumonteil is located at 475 Park Avenue in New York City. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact 212-840-0475 or [email protected]
