Jim Lee
Jim Lee (1945–2023) was the “original wild child of fashion photography,” known for his stylish, theatrical imagery and his unapologetically narrative-driven approach. Emerging in the late 1960s, Lee revolutionized fashion photography by shifting focus away from the garments themselves and toward the stories that could be told through image-making. His work introduced a cinematic, often provocative flair to editorial spreads, marked by elaborate sets, ambitious outdoor productions, and bold, conceptual staging.
Born to MI5 operatives, Lee’s early life hinted at the unconventional path he would later take. At seventeen, he moved to Australia, where he discovered photography and began developing a visual language rooted in adventure and experimentation. Upon returning to London during the height of the Swinging Sixties, he gained recognition photographing bands such as The Who, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. His gritty, photojournalistic style soon caught the attention of fashion editors and designers, including a young Anna Wintour, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gianni Versace.
Lee became a pioneer in reimagining the possibilities of fashion and advertising photography. His images, often referencing current events such as the Vietnam War or the Baader-Meinhof affair, wove together politics and aesthetics. Over time, his visual approach evolved into what he described as “a romantic soft-focus frenzy,” though he never strayed from his dedication to storytelling. His photographs placed desire and drama in service of consumption while maintaining an edge of introspective commentary.
In addition to his editorial and advertising work, Lee covered runway shows for designers like Alexander McQueen and Zandra Rhodes and directed music videos and commercials. His photographs often featured subjects looking away from the lens, creating a voyeuristic quality that invited viewers into a constructed world—believable, surreal, and emotionally charged.
Lee’s work is held in the permanent collections of institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow, and the National Art Museum of China in Beijing. His legacy continues to influence fashion photography through its fearless embrace of narrative and theatricality.
Photography & Works
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Jim Lee
Loli, Red Shoes Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Pyjamas, Brushing Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Pyjamas, Shaving Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Robot Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Willy/Midget Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Arrested: Platinum Prints 1968 – 2005 Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Baader, Meinhof Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Bathers Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Bikini, Beachy Head Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Boxing, NY Win Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Cowboys and Indians Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Deauville / Girl Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Divers, Rome Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Flesh Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Hat Add to cart -
Jim Lee
I Do / 2021 Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Ice Pick / 2020 Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Loaded, Beachy Head Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Midget Add to cart -
Jim Lee
On the Beach Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Ossie Clark / Plane Crash Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Ossie Clark / Vietnam Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Ossie Clark, Aeroplane Add to cart -
Jim Lee
Poodle Add to cart
News & Articles

Red, Yellow, Blue and All the Colors in Between: A Photographic Survey of Color and Form

Simple Pleasures: The Quiet Glow

Simple Pleasures: The simple joys of a walk in the park

Art Miami 2024

Summer Snapshots: A Celebration of Sunlit Moments

Jim Lee’s The Priest

The Curious and Creative Eye – The Visual Language of Humor

Temperatures Rising: Surrender to the Heat

The Immediate Image

Photo London 2022

Fashion with an Edge

Martin Barnes on Jim Lee

Exhale

Photo London Digital 2020

Meet our Artists: Jim Lee

Jim Lee’s “Arrested” Photographs

Jim Lee’s Ossie Clark / Plane Crash / 1969

Dialogues With Great Photographers – Jim Lee

Jim Lee’s Arrested Portfolio
