Julian Lennon to Have Photography Exhibit at Leica Gallery

Sandra Miska

British musician and artist Julian Lennon has been known for many things throughout his life, but these days he is wearing his photographer hat. Los Angelenos can see for themselves when his photography exhibition, “Cycle,” comes to the Leica Gallery Sept.–Oct. 17.

For “Cycle,” Lennon traveled to the borders of the South China Sea to photograph local inhabitants at various stages in the Cycle of Life. “Cycle” also includes awe-inspiring landscapes and riverscapes.

Part of the proceeds from “Cycle” will go to the White Feather Foundation, a non-profit founded by Lennon that focuses on environmental and humanitarian issues. A dedicated philanthropist, Lennon has in the recent past traveled to Africa to deliver clean drinking water. While in Kenya and Ethiopia, Lennon captured images of the locals, not only to bring awareness of their plights, but also to educate outsiders about indigenous cultures.

“We are all in this together, and hopefully someday, this world will realize that photography is one way to share, learn, appreciate, and experience other cultures, which in turn allows us to empathize with others.” Lennon told the Leica Gallery.

Julian Lennon was born in 1963 in Liverpool, England to Beatle John Lennon and his first wife Cynthia. From a young age he was drawn to art, and it was a drawing he made in nursery school that inspired “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” The younger Lennon is also the inspiration behind the Beatles’ songs “Hey Jude” and “Good Night.”

At age 11, Lennon made his musical debut playing drums on one of his father’s recordings. He went on to have his own successful solo career, releasing his first album, “Valotte,” in 1984, which reached number 17 on the US charts and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. He release five subsequent albums, the most recent in 2011, although he never replicated the success of his debut.

In 2007, Lennon developed a serious interest in photography while photographing his half-brother Sean, also a musician, on tour. His first exhibit, “Timeless,” opened in New York in Sept. 2010 and featured images not only of Sean, but also of Bono and actress Kate Hudson. His 2015 show, “Horizons,” focused on the photographs he took in Africa.

Julian Lennon’s “Cycle” will be on display at the Leica Gallery Sept. 9 – Oct. 17.