Peter Beard was an American photographer and diarist best known for his powerful and evocative documentary images of Africa. Born in New York City, Beard’s work often blends photography, painting, drawing, and text, creating unique photo collages that tell compelling stories about the African wilderness and its endangered species. Educated at Yale University, Beard studied art history under the mentorship of renowned abstract painter Josef Albers. His first exhibition at the Blum Helman Gallery in New York City in 1975 marked the beginning of a prolific career. Beard's art gained widespread recognition with landmark museum exhibitions at the International Center of Photography, New York (1977), and the Centre national de la photographie in Paris (1997). His work was also featured in galleries across Berlin, London, Toronto, Madrid, Milan, Tokyo, and Vienna.
Beard’s photographs are included in private collections worldwide, celebrated for their raw beauty and profound narrative. In April 2020, after a mysterious disappearance from his Long Island home, Beard was found deceased following an extensive nineteen-day search. His legacy continues to inspire with his distinctive fusion of art, nature, and documentary photography.
