Norman Seeff’s photographs are known to millions of people across the world, even if they may not be aware of his name – for he has photographed some of the world’s best known entertainers – The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Cher, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson – as well as artist Andy Warhol, film director Martin Scorsese, Apple’s founder Steve Jobs and the physicist Francis Crick of DNA sequence fame.

Very few, however, are aware that Seeff is a South African. Born in South Africa, he completed his schooling & studies in Johannesburg, where he  studied medicine and served as a medical doctor in Soweto for three years, dealing primarily with clinical emergencies.

Relocating to New York in 1968, Seeff switched careers, working as a graphic designer at Columbia Records, under the talented direction of Bob Cato. There he created hundreds of record covers which led to his becoming an extremely successful ‘rock’ photographer and designer.

In 1971, Seeff joined United Artists as a creative director and relocated to Los Angeles where he continued to direct and design award-winning imagery for music albums. Four years later, in 1975, he opened his own Los Angeles-based studio as an independent photographer, both of stills and film, capturing his interactions with his sitters – musicians, writers, directors, politicians and entrepreneurs.

Seeff’s iconic images are characterised by his ability to engage directly with his subjects, very often superstars who have become household names. At the heart of his shoots lies his deep interest in human interaction and people’s creative abilities, revealing a vibrant intimacy beyond the usual constraints imposed by the lens.

The video accompanying the exhibition at Norval Foundation provides viewers with an opportunity to witness the synergy he creates with his subjects, allowing them to be fully themselves in front of his lens.

Norval Foundation has celebrated the careers of a number of remarkable photographers – the work of the sentinel figure, David Goldblatt, whose poignant documentary photographs are valued around the world, as well as the self-referential portraits of Zanele Muholi, a visual activist who currently has a major survey exhibition hosted at the Tate Modern, London. Most recently, Norval has exhibited a retrospective exhibition of Bernie Searle’s autobiographical documentation of her body in relation to politically loaded contexts and histories.

Norval Foundation takes great pleasure in introducing Norman Seeff’s work to South Africans, celebrating his contribution by exhibiting his iconic images that have shaped public consciousness over decades. Homecoming opens at Norval Foundation on 13 September and runs until 5 February 2025. It will be accompanied by active public programming that will be shared on the website.