Paul McCartney photo exhibit at AGO shows Beatlemania up close

The Art Gallery of Ontario is presenting Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm, a touring collection of more than 200 intimate images largely taken by McCartney during the Beatles' rise from December 1963 to February 1964.

An exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario presents Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm. The touring show, organized by London's National Portrait Gallery, opened in Toronto with more than 200 intimate images largely taken by McCartney during a three-month span from December 1963 to February 1964. The pictures were rediscovered in 2020 in MPL Communications archives and McCartney selected prints from roughly 1,000 negatives and contact sheets. Most images are black-and-white snapshots, with sunlit Kodachrome colour photos from Miami among the exceptions. Highlights: - The exhibit gathers images taken by McCartney and documents moments in Liverpool, London, Paris, New York, Washington and Miami during the early 1960s rise of the Beatles. - Many photos are intimate or informal views, including candid shots, selfies and behind-the-scenes moments not commonly seen in press pictures. - The negatives and contact sheets were preserved by MPL Communications and were reviewed by McCartney, who chose a set of images to turn into prints. - All four Beatles were given identical Asahi Pentax SLR cameras during that period; McCartney took the documentary task particularly seriously. - The collection includes mostly black-and-white images alongside colour images from the Beatles’ time in Miami. Summary: The photographs present a participant’s view of Beatlemania, showing informal and personal moments that contrast with well-known press images. The AGO presentation is the Toronto stop of a touring exhibition organized by London's National Portrait Gallery. Undetermined at this time.