UNFILTERED - Alan Chapman at ME Hotel: In collaboration with Cramer St. Gallery

Alan Chapman: Unfiltered features striking black-and-white portraits of some of the most influential figures in music, film, fashion, and art. Chapman’s lens has captured Freddie Mercury, Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss, Princess Diana, Mick Jagger, Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Sophia Loren, Courtney Love, Liam Gallagher, Boy George, Robbie Williams and Lady Gaga, among many others.

Moments of charisma, vulnerability, defiance, and joy unfold naturally in Chapman’s images, creating an intimacy that feels increasingly radical today. With many of the subjects now gone, the photographs also carry a profound sense of cultural memory and loss.

Curated by Ryan Monro, A Space for Art and Christina Zahra, CMJZ Arts

Alan Chapman began his career in the 1970s, quickly earning the reputation of being the polite paparazzo. Unlike the aggressive stereotypes associated with celebrity photography, Chapman rejected sensationalism in favour of authenticity. The term Paparazzo itself originates from Fellini’s iconic 1960 film La Dolce Vita, referencing the character Paparazzo – played by Walter Santesso – an ambitious photographer chasing Rome’s glitterati. Chapman redefined this role, choosing empathy and instinct over intrusion. 

Alan Chapman is a renowned photographer working regularly with Dave Bennett Agency, one of Getty Images main contributors. Chapman is widely respected within media and art circles. His limited-edition prints have been sold at major art fairs in London and Los Angeles, and his work has previously been exhibited at Proud Galleries, London and Cramer St Gallery at their Marylebone location.

Uninterested in exposing flaws or manufacturing scandal, Chapman’s work is celebrated for capturing energy, character, and presence, rather than prejudice or spectacle. His discreet approach granted him extraordinary access behind the velvet rope, from glamorous late-night parties to major art previews and cultural events in London and Los Angeles. The natural, spontaneous images featured in Alan Chapman - Unfiltered were photographed in a pre-Instagram era, before PR teams, curated feeds and digital filters.

Bio by Lee Sharrock - Culturalee