BACK STORY

Paul Westlake began his journey in photography in 1966 when his uncle gifted him a beautiful Zeiss Ikon camera, enclosed in a stiff, almost brand-new leather case. This marked the beginning of a journey that would evolve into his life’s obsession—photography. It took a few decades before he could call himself a professional but as luck would have it, Paul was drawn into the world of fashion magazines in Sydney when ELLE magazine signed him on as a regular editorial photographer during their launch in 1989, and from there, he never looked back. In the nineties, Paul moved to New York with his wife Nathalie to pursue their dreams, where they continue to reside and now create Pan & The Dream, an independent award-winning art and style publication. Over the years, he's had the privilege of contributing to prestigious publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and Grazia. As a fashion photographer, imagination is integral to his craft. Paul strives to unveil hidden narratives that are compelling, beautiful, and mysterious. This process involves stepping outside of himself and finding a spark of something ‘other.’ To him, a good photograph is like a postcard from a dream; all his most compelling photographs emerge this way.

“Paul Westlake’s clarity of vision guides his every image. There is a reverence for the organic in his work that permeates each composition - skin and fabric are shown as both visual and tactile, and the body is explored as shape and form. His work draws on a multitude of influences - from film and fashion histories - to create subtle, cinematic moments that suggest hidden narratives. Photography’s emotional pull plays an equally significant part in Westlake’s appeal to the senses. He approaches his subjects with delicacy, allowing their feelings, as well as his own to guide the image’s formation. The connection between photographer and sitter is evident in his photography’s intimacy, its careful composition and the way he illuminates every scene, frequently cropping close to draw the viewer into the dreamscape he has created. “

- Dr Rebecca Arnold, The Courtauld Institute of Art, London

Exhibitions & Awards:

2024 - Recipient of the prestigious “Art of Light Award” in the 6th Chelsea International Photography Competition - New York

2024 - Celebrating an Australian Icon: David Jones' - Powerhouse Museum & David Jones, Sydney. This exhibition celebrates the legacy of David Jones, Australia’s oldest and finest department store, through a diverse collection of contemporary and historical artifacts. My photographs contribute to the dialogue on David Jones’ influence in shaping the fashion landsacpe in Australia.

2023 - LensCulture B+W Photography award finalist: - “Jennae Q”

2023 - Contemporary Voices in Photography. Group Exhibition. Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts, Providence, RI. (Juror: Paula Tognarelli, Curator and former Executive Director of the Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA )

2023 - Modern Analog. Group Exhibition. Dallas Center for Photography, Dallas TX. (Juror: Lisa Elmaleh, artist, educator, and documentarian, Hampshire County, West Virginia)

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