Damned or Doomed — history will decide. When Tony Viramontes made his debut in fashion illustration in the late 1970s he scored an immediate success, rapidly acquiring the kind of prestigious editorial commissions often allocated to photographers. From Lei, Per Lui in Italy, Vogue in the USA, the Face in Britain, as well as Jill Magazine, Marie Claire, Le Monde and City Magazine in France his client list exploded.

His strong and direct style was in marked contrast to the whispered visuals of the 70s. By the time of his death in 1988 he had been offered creative control of Goldie and worked with some of the most celebrated names in fashion. Valentino loved him, as did Gaulfier and Hanae Mon. He had drawn for Givenchy, Miyake, Yves Sant Laurant, Pierre Cardin, Ungaro and the House of Dior. Portraits of Isabella Rossellini, Paloma Picasso and Janet Jackson were in his portfolio.

Tony Viramontes was born in 1956 in Los Angeles, USA, of Spanish and Mexican parents. He traveled extensively as a child. He studied fine art and photography in New York at FIT and Parsons, before switching to fashion and beauty illustration. He scored an immediate success, rapidly acquiring the kind of prestigious editorial commissions too often allocated to photographers, from Lei ,Per Lui in Italy, Vogue in the USA, the Face in Britain, as well as Jill Magazine , Marie Claire Le Monde and City Magazine in France. Viramontes also worked with some of the most renowned names in fashion including Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Versace, Chanel, Perry Ellis, Claude Montana and Rochas cosmetics. As well as creating portraits of Paloma Picasso and Diana Ross. The album covers he conceived for seminal artists of the period-Duran Duran, Donna Summer and Janet Jackson- caught the glitzrieg mood of the 1980s Goldy - the latest Italian version of Fiorucci - and Hanae Mori, the Japanese couturiere, asked him to take on the artistic direction of their companies, from the decoration of their boutiques to the design of their collections.

Carla Sozzani Gallery
Corso Como,10
Milan 20154 Italy
Ph. +39 02 653531
galleria@galleriacarlasozzani.org
www.galleriacarlasozzani.org

Opening hours
Monday 3.30pm - 7.30pm
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10.30am - 7.30pm
Wednesday and Thursday 10.30am - 9.00pm