bio & cv
Over the past 50 years Lynn Goldsmith’s photography has appeared on and between the covers of Life, Newsweek, Time, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic Traveler, People, Elle, Interview, The New Yorker, etc. Her subjects have varied from entertainment personalities to sports stars, from film directors to authors, from the extraordinary to the ordinary man on the street. imagery is in numerous museum collections: The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, The Museum of Modern Art, The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Museum Folkwang, The Polaroid Collection, The Kodak Collection, etc. It’s also in the personal art collections of many celebrities: Michael J. Fox, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Elliot Paige, to name a few. Winning numerous prestigious awards: the Lucien Clergue, World Press in Portraiture, the Lucie in Portraiture, Lynn considers herself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to make her quest into the nature of identity, into beauty, into stardom, and the human spirit, to be both her life adventure and her livelihood.
Fifteen books of Lynn’s imagery have been published. The Rizzoli coffee table photo book, New Kids, made The New York Times Best Seller list. This is a rare occurrence for any book of photography. Her sixteenth book, Springsteen and the E Street Band, published by Taschen, will be released fall of 2023. She’s also received two New York Art Direction awards for her books Circus Dreams, and Rock and Roll Stories.
Lynn’s professional achievements are in no way limited to the world of photography. In 1969 for Electra Records, she created the ‘bio-disk,’ won a Clio for her inventive radio spots, and was one of the first to make short films of musicians to be used for promotion of the album. Lynn is the youngest woman member ever to be accepted into the DGA (Director’s Guild of America). In 1971, she was a director for Joshua Television, the first company to do video magnification for rock groups entertaining at what was then considered large venues, i.e. Madison Sq Garden and the Hollywood Bowl. In 1972, she became a director for the first rock show on late night network television: ABC’s “In Concert”. By 1973, Lynn stopped directing TV and joined Andy Cavaliere to co-manage Grand Funk Railroad. Lynn created the American Band campaign. She made a documentary styled film for their song “We’re An American Band” and was the first to not only make sure it was released as a theatrical short, serviced to US Army bases worldwide, but also used to make TV spots. For their next album, Lynn was the first to do a 3D album cover with punch out 3D glasses. By 1976 Lynn was ready to move on and left management to focus on a career as a photographer. She founded a photo agency that licensed her work and others to publications across the globe. It was the first photo agency to focus on celebrity portraiture. Established in 1976, when news photography was what photo agencies focused on, Lynn seemed to know a decade before others that the magazine appetite would shift from world events to more coverage of the biggest names in entertainment.
By the early 80’s Lynn expanded her creativity to become the first ‘optic-music’ artist. Using the a.k.a. Will Powers, she wrote and produced the album “Dancing For Mental Health” released on Island Records. Working with noted musicians Sting, Steve Winwood, Todd Rundgren and Nile Rodgers, her debut album won critical acclaim and the single, Kissing With Confidence, reached #3 on the British charts. As was her plan, the videos from the album which she produced and directed, became more than simply commercials to sell the record. They were used by the United States Department of Labor to inspire unemployed youths, by the National Marriage Counsel in England and by Harvard University to help with language instruction. The Museum of Modern Art in New York City has two Will Powers videos in their permanent collection. Lynn was among the first artists to do 3-dimensional computer animation as seen in her 1983 video, Adventures in Success. The roots of her music came from the experience of being in a band, The Walking Wounded, while attending the University of Michigan where she graduated in 3 years, Magna Cum Laude, with a B.A. in both English and Psychology. Though highly educated, Lynn considers herself a self-taught artist.
In 2016 a lawsuit was brought against her by the Andy Warhol Foundation for her studio portrait of Prince. For seven years she fought to protect her copyright, and that of all artists, to their work. The legal battle went all the way to the Supreme Court, and in May of 2023, Lynn won a 7-2 victory. This ruling insured that the copyright law would not become so diluted by an unclear definition of fair use that visual artists could lose the rights to their work. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor called Lynn “a trailblazer.” The Chronicle book ‘200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See the World‘ included Lynn. The wide range of Lynn’s talents, skills and achievements are products of a belief she holds constant: If you want to maximize your potential for living a full life, you needs to break limiting thought patterns, bust through fear, take risks, and persistently work hard to reach your goals.
In the Collections of:
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
Chicago Museum Of Contemporary Photography
Kodak Collection
Polaroid Collection
Museum Folkwang
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Michael Zilkha
Michael J Fox
Elliot Page
Keegan-Michael Kay
Rob Roth
Bill Pohlad
Larry Levy
Dr. Daniel Baker
2016 – Gallerie 12, Paris, France
2015 – Mouche Gallery “Loupe de Loupe”, Beverly Hills, CA
2015 – Morrison Hotel Gallery NYC “Streets of NYC” April 16th – May 30th 2015
2014 – Mouche Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA
2013 – San Francisco Art Exchange, San Francisco, CA
2013 – Morrison Hotel Gallery, NYC, NY
2012 – Proud Chelsea Gallery, London, UK
2011 – San Francisco Art Exchange, San Francisco, CA
2011 – Morrison Hotel Gallery, NYC, NY
2011 – Galerie Zuger, Vail, CO
2010 – Singleton-Bliss Museum of Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
2010 – Hallmark Museum of Contemporary Photography, Turner Falls, MA
2010 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery, New York, NY
2010 – Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, Ft. Collins, CO
2010 – A Gallery for Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
2010 – Morrison Hotel Gallery La Jolla CA
2009 – Jenkins Johnson, New York, NY
2008 – Hallmark Museum of Contemporary Photography, Turner Falls, MA
2008 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery, New York, NY
2008 – Masters Gallery, Denver, CO
2007 – Holden Luntz Palm Beach Contemporary Art Fair, FL
2007 – Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Cleveland, OH
2007 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2007 – Contessa Gallery, Cleveland, OH
2007 – Frank Picture Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 – Morrison Hotel Gallery La Jolla CA
2006 – Morrison Hotel Gallery – New York, NY
2005 – Masters Gallery, Denver, CO
2003 – David Florida Gallery, Aspen, CO
2002 – Barbara Gillman Gallery, Miami, FL
2002 – Photo Forum Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2001 – Celebrities Gallery, Lahaina, HI
2000 – Foto Real, Austin, TX
1998 – Elaine Baker Gallery, Boca Raton, FL
1996 – The VH-1 Gallery, New York, NY
1995 – ICP, The International Center of Photography, NY, NY
1995 – The Govinda Gallery, Washington, DC
1994 – Acanthus Gallery, Saugerties, NY
EXHIBITIONS – PHOTOGRAPHY – GROUP SHOWS
2023 – Tina Turner – Museum of Image and Sound – São Paulo, Brazil
2023 – Basquiat Soundtrack – Philharmonie de Paris – Paris, France
2021 – Morrison Hotel Gallery “Bob Dylan – Forever Young” New York, NY
2021 – Nottingham Contemporary Gallery “Grace Before Jones: Camera, Disco, Studio” Nottingham, ENG
2019 – MASS MoCA, MA – The Bright and Hollow Sky
2018 – Morrison Hotel Gallery “David Bowie Exhibit” New York, NY
2018 – Brooklyn Museum “David Bowie Is” Brooklyn, NY
2018 – Broadway/Lafayette Subway Station, NYC – David Bowie Exhibit
2018 – Morrison Hotel Gallery, NYC – CBGB Exhibit
2018 – Morrison Hotel Gallery, NYC – Queen Exhibit
2018 – Morrison Hotel Gallery, “Bowie” Los Angeles, CA – Maui, HA – New York, NY
2017 – Mouche, “Ziggy Stardust” Las Angeles, CA
2017 – Blender Gallery, “A Portrait of Patti Smith” Sydney, Australia
2016 – Blender Gallery, “Starman” Paddington, Australia
2016 – Contemporary Jewish Museum, “Bill Graham and the Rock and Roll Revolution”, San Francisco, CA
2016 – Minneapolis Institute of Art, “Who’s Who: Seeing Back to Front”, Minneapolis, MN
2015 – The Skirball Museum LA Calif “Bill Graham and the Rock and Roll Revolution”
2015 – “The Universe of Pier Paolo Pasolini”, Castello Carlo V Lecce, Italy
2014 – HistoryMiami, Smithsonian Affiliate Museum “Ladies and Gentlemen… The Beatles!”, Miami, FL
2014 – Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, “American Cool” Washington, DC
2014 – The Henry Ford “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” Dearborn, MI
2013 – Canadian Museum of History “Face to Face: The Canadian Personalities Hall” Gatineau, QC
2013 – Canadian Museum of History “Double-Take: Portraits of Canadian Newsmakers” Gatineau, QC
2013 – The Durham Museum, “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” Omaha, NE
2013 – Musical Instrument Museum, “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” Scottsdale, AZ
2013 – Experience Music Project, “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” Seattle, WA
2012 – The National Museum of Women in the Arts, “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” Washington, DC
2012 – McMichael Canadian Art Centre “Double-Take: Portraits of Canadian Newsmakers” Kleinburg, ON
2012 – Confederation Centre Art Gallery “Double-Take: Portraits of Canadian Newsmakers” Charlottetown, PEI
2012 – Holden Luntz Gallery, “ReImagine-ReInvent” Palm Beach, FL
2012 – Currier Museum of Art, “Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography” Manchester, NH
2012 – Auckland Art Museum, “Who Shot Rock” Auckland, New Zealand
2012 – Allentown Art Museum, “Who Shot Rock” Allentown, PA
2012 – Blender Gallery, “Blondie Heart of Glass” Sydney, Australia
2012 – Holden Luntz Gallery, “A Visual Journey Through The Imagination” Palm Beach, FL
2012 – Norton Museum, “Clubs, Joints, and Honky Tonks” Palm Beach, FL
2012 – Morrison Hotel Gallery, “Rolling Stones. A 50 Year Tribute” New York, NY
2012 – Museum Folkwang, “Der Mensch und seine Objekte” Essen, Germany.
2012 – Annenburg Space for Photography, “Who Shot Rock & Roll” Los Angeles, CA
2012 – Detroit Museum of Contemporary Art, “Light Show” Detroit, MI
2012 – Royal Ontario Museum, “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll” Toronto, CA
2011 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” Cleveland, OH
2011 – Lynn and Baron: “Rock History” Etherton Gallery, Tucson AZ
2011 – Museum of the Rockies, “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll” Bozeman, MT
2011 – The Buddy Holly Center, “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll” Lubbock, TX
2011 – Tucson Museum of Art, “Who Shot Rock” Tucson, AZ
2011 – Birmingham Museum of Art, “Who Shot Rock” Birmingham, AL
2011 – Columbia Museum of Art, “Who Shot Rock” Columbia, SC
2010 – Worcester Art Museum, “Who Shot Rock” Worcester, MA
2010 – Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, “Who Shot Rock” Memphis, TN
2010 – Akron Art Museum, “Who Shot Rock” Akron, OH
2010 – George Eastman House, “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll” Rochester, NY
2010 – Museum of Photographic Arts, “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll” San Diego, CA
2010 – Amerika Haus, Munich Germany
2010 – Museum Folkwang “A Star is Born”, Essen Germany
2010 – Jenkins Johnson “Winter Haiku”, San Francisco, CA and NYC, NY
2010 – Experience Museum “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll”, Seattle, WA
2009 – Jenkins Johnson “Summertime”, San Francisco
2009 – Women’s Museum, “Music Seen: Rock ‘N’ Roll Photojournalists” Dallas, TX
2009 – Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn New York, NY
2009 – Scope New York, Jenkins Johnson, New York, NY
2009 – Pulse New York, Jenkins Johnson, New York, NY
2009 – Portland Museum of Art, “Backstage Pass: Rock and Roll Photography” Portland, OR
2009 – Holden Luntz Gallery, “A Time Remembered” PB, FLA
2008 – Art Miami, Contessa Gallery, Miami, FL
2007 – Center for Fine Art Photography – “Fantasy and Fantasies” Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
2007 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery- “Representation 2007”, San Francisco CA, New York, NY
2007 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery- “Celebrate Summer”, San Francisco CA, New York, NY
2007 – Art Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
2007 – Scope Hamptons, Wainscott, NY
2007 – Center for Fine Art Photography – “Fantasy and Fantasies” Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
2007 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery- “Representation 2007”, San Francisco CA, New York, NY
2007 – Jenkins Johnson Gallery- “Celebrate Summer”, San Francisco CA, New York, NY
2006 – Group Show – Art of Photography, San Diego, CA
2006 – PDN Photography Annual Personal Work
2005 – Group Show – Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, CO
2005 – Barrett Art Center – Poughkeepsie NY
2002 – Eye Candy Ron Judish Fine Arts, Denver, CO
2002 – Kodak Rock Photography Collection
2003 – Portraits Of Modern Music Beaker Gallery, Tampa, FL
2004 – Newark Museum – Group Show
2002 – David Floria Gallery, Aspen, CO
2002 – Springsteen – Troubadour of the Highway Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MI
2002 – Springsteen – Cranbrook Art Museum, Detroit, MI
2002 – Springsteen – Experience Music Project, Seattle, WA
2002 – Springsteen – Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ
2001 – Milk Exhibition, New York, London
1998 – Backstage – Serge Sorokko Gallery, New York, NY
1998 – Images of Rock – 50 Years of Rock and Roll Photography, Magidson Fine Art Gallery, New York, NY
1997 – Seeing Jazz – Smithsonian Institute – Traveling Show
1996 – Graham Nash / Nash Editions – Traveling Show
1996 – The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
1996 – Kent Gallery – Domestic Abuse Awareness, New York, NY
1996 – The Photographer’s Gallery, London, England
1996 – Contemporary Prints / Nash Editions, CA
1996 – The Cool and The Crazy – Images of Punk, Candace Perich Gallery, Ridgefield, CT and the
1996 – The Cool and The Crazy – Images of Punk, Earl McGrath Gallery, New York, NY
1996 – Photographs, Do Not Bend Gallery, Dallas, TX
1993 – The Polaroid Collection
1989 – Women in Photography International World Tour
1988 – People Magazine – US Tour
1986 – Museum of the Moving Image, New York, NY
EXHIBITIONS – VIDEO
2013 – Museum of The Moving Image
1988 – New York State Museum – Albany, NY
1987 – Magazine Traveling Exhibit – MTV
1987 – Vermont Film Festival
1985 – Museum of Modern Art – New York, NY
1985 – Houston International Film Festival
1985 – New York International Film Festival
AWARDS – VIDEO
1985 – Int’l Television and Film Festival of New York – Silver Medal
1985 – Houston International Film Festival – Gold Award
1985 – Int’l Television and Film Festival of New York – Silver Medal
1984 – Int’l Television and Film Festival of New York – Gold Medal
1984 – Int’l Television and Film Festival of New York – Silver Medal
1984 – Monitor Award
1984 – ArtExpo NY featured in Electronic Art
1984 – Museum of Modern Art Circulating Video Library
AWARDS – PHOTOGRAPHY
2024 – APAG Beacon Award
2020 – The Lucie Award – Achievement in Portraiture
2018 – Album Cover Hall of Fame – Class of 2018 Inductee
2017 – PHOTOPLUS EXPO 2017 Perspectives Photo Contest
2016 – 11th Annual Black & White Spider Awards
2015 – 10th Annual Black & White Spider Awards
2015 – Shots Magazine – Issue 127 – The Goodbye Letter
2014 – PDN Photo Annual Winner for Rock and Roll Stories
2014 – The Photoimaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) Photographer Award
2011 – Black and White Spider Awards, Honorable Mention
2010 – The Gala Awards : The Dominant Color Award, special mention
2010 – PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris, 2nd Place Self Portraits
2010 – PDN Faces, Self Portrait catagory, The Looking Glass Series
2009 – The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, 3rd prize Digital Enhanced catagory
2009 – PDN Faces, Self Portrait catagory, The Looking Glass Series
2009 – ARTROM Gallery Women In The Arts
2009 – PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris, 2nd Place Self Portraits
2008 – PDN Faces First Runner up, Self Portrait Category
2007 – Camera Arts Magazine/Center For Fine Art Photography, Directors Selection
2005 – Photowork 05 – Barrett Art Center – Poughkeepsie NY
2005 – B&W Spider Awards Vintage 1st place winner
1994 – NPC International
1992 – Art Director’s Club – Book – 71st National Exhibition Merit Award for Circus Dreams
1991 – Art Director’s Club – Book – 70th National Exhibition Merit Award for New Kids
1990 – Art Director’s Club – People Magazine’s Most Beautiful
1987 – NPC International
1986 – Lucien Clergue Award
1985 – World Press – Portraiture
1982 – NPC International
1981 – NPC International
SOCIETIES
Directors Guild of America
American Society of Media Photographers
American Federation of Musicians
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
World Photographic Academy
Photo Imaging Education Association
LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
Perspective International Design & Architecture Festival – Columbus, Indiana
Entertainment Law Institute Program – Austin, TX
Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
The Julia Dean Photo Workshops
Colorado Mountain College
The Silver Seas Cruise Line
The Eddie Adams Workshop
Photo Imaging Education Association, PMA Anaheim, CA
Rencontres D’Arles, France
ASMP – Washington DC
Billboard Convention, Los Angeles CA
VISCOMM – New York, NY
Cape May Photo Workshop – Cape May, NJ
Center for Photography at Woodstock – Woodstock, NY
Rhode Island School of Design
Oklahoma Arts Institute – Stillwater, OK
Santa Fe Photographic Workshop – Santa Fe, NM
The Learning Annex – New York, NY
ICP – International Center of Photography – New York, NY
The Disney Institute – Lake Buena Vista, FL
Wheaton College – Norton, MA
The Photography Club of Long Island – Port Washington, NY
The Hallmark Institute of Photography
Eddie Adams Workshop – New York, NY
Anderson Ranch – Snowmass, CO
Photo Expo East – New York, NY
Digital Shooters Retreat – Scottsdale, AZ
Digital Landscape Workshop Series – Bryce Canyon, Utah
Digital Landscape Workshop Series – Hilo, Hawaii
Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention – Las Vegas, Nevada
First Ladies of Photography: A Forum
Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention – Las Vegas, Nevada
40 Years Behind the Camera
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
A SELECT LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
America 24/7
New York 24/7
The Story of Kodak
More Reflections on the Meaning of Life
Life and Love – A Book of Embraces
An American Reunion 1993 – The 52nd Presidential Inauguration
RollingStone – The Photographs
RollingStone – The Illustrated History of Rock and Roll
RollingStone – Images of Rock & Roll
RollingStone – The Complete Covers 1967-1997
Halloween
A Day in the Life of America
A Day in the Life of Canada
A Day in the Life of Italy
A Day in the Life of Spain
A Day in the Life of London
A Day in the Life of The National Hockey League
The White T
Life – The First 50 Years, 1936-1986
Life – Century of Change
Seeing Jazz – Artists and Writers on Jazz
Nudes Index 1
Love – A Celebration of Humanity
Graphis Photo Annual 2002
Rolling Stone book of 1000 covers