Beverly Hills, April 25 (Virág Vida) — At the Gagosian Gallery, “Rearview Mirror,” an exhibition of rediscovered photographs by Paul McCartney, offers an intimate, rare glimpse into the early days of Beatlemania. Spread across two spacious rooms, the show is anchored by large central panels, the most striking of which greets visitors in the welcome room: a set of supersized portraits of each Beatles member. This opening immediately sets the tone—grand yet personal.
As a journalist covering this exhibition, I was struck not just by the nostalgic aura, but by McCartney’s genuine photographic talent. While most remember him as a musician, “Rearview Mirror” makes a compelling case for McCartney as a visual artist in his own right. His compositions—often candid, sometimes poetic—show a sharp eye and artistic instinct. Considering these images were taken with a 35mm Pentax camera in the early 1960s, it’s remarkable how fresh and dynamic they still feel. Today, anyone can take a great photo with a smartphone; back then, it took real nerve, timing, and intuition—especially when you were touring with the most famous band on Earth.
Some of the most powerful photographs are those that capture unexpected angles, such as a bird’s-eye view over a crowd from a hotel balcony where the Beatles were accommodated. The silence of the height and the muffled clamor of the teeming crowd are both perceptible at once, creating a tension within the composition.
One particularly captivating image shows John Lennon having a splash in the ocean, lifting his left arm, surrounded by vibrant blue water. The photo radiates a sense of freedom and carefree happiness—a moment so pure and light, it’s hard not to reflect on the tragic future that lay ahead.
Another standout piece holds true historical value: a behind-the-scenes shot of John Lennon and George Harrison rehearsing together just before their iconic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. This intimate moment reveals a quiet focus before history was made and offers fans a rare glimpse of the Beatles not as global superstars, but as dedicated young musicians at work.
“Rearview Mirror” includes thirty-six works taken between December 1963 and February 1964, many previously unseen, and made available for the first time as signed editions. These photos trace the Beatles’ early rise, from London and Liverpool to Paris and finally to the U.S.—with crowds, chaos, and quiet moments captured from McCartney’s perspective inside the whirlwind.
Accompanying the images is an installation of original Beatles ephemera and rare footage by American documentarians Albert and David Maysles, who filmed the group’s first U.S. tour. Each photograph is carefully framed in a custom design created by McCartney in collaboration with Griffin Editions, adding a personal finishing touch to this historical and artistic body of work.
Organized by Gagosian’s Joshua Chuang and designed by Stefan Beckman, “Rearview Mirror” coincides with McCartney’s touring photography exhibition Eyes of the Storm, currently on view at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. A portion of the exhibition’s proceeds will go toward wildfire recovery efforts in Southern California.
More than a collection of snapshots, “Rearview Mirror” is a powerful testament to McCartney’s creative vision, proving that even in the most chaotic moments, he could find stillness, beauty, and art.
– Virág Vida –
