Nigel Parry

Tom Cruise with sunglasses in black and white - portait of the superstar

Nigel Parry has photographed many of the most important and influential figures of the 20th and 21st centuries, including a wide range of A-list celebrities, models, athletes, politicians and other personalities. He has been commissioned by many noteworthy publications, advertising agencies and private companies across the globe. The trust from his subjects allows viewers to emotionally and intellectually connect with their humanity. Parry has said, “The only thing that is important is the person in front of me and what I’m trying to say about that person.”

Parry was born in 1961 in London, England. When he was 11, his father, an amateur photographer, drew Parry’s attention to photography by showing him his darkroom and how he made film, beginning Parry’s romance with the art.

Parry began his career as a graphic designer, employed by the publishing company Faber and Faber. The head of the company noticed Parry’s gift for photography and arranged for an exhibition of his portraits at the Groucho Club in London. 

Parry began photographing professionally in 1988 and, in 1994, moved to New York to further his career. His curiosity, creativity and courage soon led to renown for his black and white portraits. He subsequently published several books of his photography, including Sharp (2000), Precious (2004) and Blunt (2006). He also directed the music video for Charlie Mars’s “Meet Me By The Backdoor” in 2009. 

Parry’s awards include the European Magazine Award, the Award of Excellence from the Society for News Design, the American Society of Magazine Editors Portrait Award and the Hasselblad Masters Award. His portraits have been exhibited in the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Portrait Gallery in London, the New York Photo Festival and Le Festival Pour L'Image Perpignan in Paris.

On 1stDibs, find Nigel Parry’s black-and-white photography, portraits, landscapes and more.