« I began photographing in 1964, after finishing a degree in anthropology and art history at the University of Missouri. My goal from the first was to become a world-class photojournalist. My heroes were Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Frank, Gene Smith, and the Magnum photographers.

My first published work was my photo of Bob Dylan in sunglasses with a cigarette, taken in Stockholm in 1966. The photo was syndicated, and I made money--which gave me faith that I could be a professional photographer.

I moved to New York City in August, 1966, and worked for a year as a studio assistant. In 1967 I left that job and started working as a free-lance photographer. It was easier than I thought to get started. Soon I was working for the New York Times, Harper's magazine, the Saturday Review, Time, and other magazines.

From 1972-76 I photographed Manhattan's financial district for my book Wall Street. This extended photographic essay won two fellowships from the NY State Arts Council, and I was awarded the Leica Medal of Excellence for the Wall Street work.

In 1975 I published my first book, Sidetripping, with text by William S. Burroughs. A.D. Coleman, writing in the NY Times, said, "Gatewood's world is freakish, earthy, blunt, erotic--most of all, terribly and beautifully alive. »

Charles Gatewood

Charles Gatewood: Greatest Hits
Until November 26, 2011

Robert Tat Gallery
49 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94108

Tues - Sat 11–5:30 pm & by appointment
First Thursdays of the month open until 7:30pm
Contact: 415-781-1122