RJ Shaughnessy

RJ Shaughnessy (b. Hollywood, Florida, 1979) is an American photographer, artist, film director and publisher.

Early Life & Education

Shaughnessy’s grandfather Chuck Ax taught in the design department at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in the 1950’s. Growing up around Ax in Florida, RJ began to develop his discerning eye. Ax would later be the reason RJ attended Art Center.

When he was 18, Shaughnessy was out taking photos during a storm and was suddenly struck by lightning. While recovering in the hospital he immersed himself in photography books, which ultimately made it clear that would be his life’s work. [1]

While at Art Center, RJ studied with photographer Paul Jasmin, and his mentorship had a profound effect on RJ’s point of view. Other early influences were Larry Clark, Corinne Day and Nan Goldin. In a 2011 interview with NBC, RJ describes meeting with Helmut Newton just before he died. RJ asked him for career advice to which Newton then replied, “Try to make everyone take their shirts off”[2]

Shaughnessy’s first book, Deathcamp[3] was shot while he was attending Art Center and is considered “a testament to a beautiful, if often bizarre, sense of humanity and community.”[4] This authentic realism is what Shaughnessy is known best for today. Shaughnessy graduated from Art Center College of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Work

Advertising

Shaughnessy’s work first garnered public attention in 2008 when he shot the Adidas Originals House Party campaign.

Since then, Shaughnessy has shot global campaigns for Uber, American Eagle, Nike Women, Vodafone, Bacardi, Virgin, Google, Capri Sun, Renault, Stussy, Adidas with David Beckham, Apple, Ray Ban, Sony PlayStation, Target, Microsoft, Levi's, Nike and Clint Eastwood for Chrysler with Wieden + Kennedy. He has also shot for Magazines such as Dazed & Confused, The Fader, Spin, Vice & Self Service, as well as musicians such as Lil Wayne and Odd Future.

Shaughnessy’s most recent book, Stay Cool [5] is a quintessential story of summertime and youth in Los Angeles. As the foreword of the book states, “This is the story of youth, where it comes from, why it’s here and how quickly it escapes us if we aren’t paying attention”.[6]

Personal Life

Shaughnessy has lived and worked in Los Angeles since 2000. In 2009, he signed with Los Angeles agency, Giant Artists [7]

Books

Exhibitions

References

  1. ↑ Lowe, Jack (April 2009) “RJ Shaughnessy” HUH Magazine http://www.huhmagazine.co.uk/71/rj-shaughnessy
  2. ↑ Pfander, Catherine Blair (November 8, 2011) “Photographer Spotlight: RJ Shaughnessy” NBC New York http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/threadny/THREAD-Photographer-Spotlight-RJ-Shaughnessy-133233153.html
  3. 1 2 Shaughnessy, RJ (2007). Deathcamp. Los Angeles: RJ Shaughnessy. p. 152. ISBN 0979274818.
  4. ↑ DOLEZAL, ANTONE (2010) REVIEW OF RJ SHAUGHNESSY’S DEATHCAMP, PHOTO-EYE BLOG. http://www.photoeye.com/magazine/reviews/2010/05_05_Deathcamp.cfm
  5. 1 2 Shaughnessy, RJ (2012). Stay Cool. Los Angeles: RJ Shaughnessy. ISBN 0979274869.
  6. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Kyle (2012), The Summer Story behind The Signs”. LAIMYOURS.COM http://laimyours.com/20575/the-summer-story-behind-the-signs-rj-shaughnessys-stay-cool/
  7. ↑ Giant Artists Los Angeles http://www.giantartists.com/
  8. ↑ Shaughnessy, R.J. (2009). Your Golden Opportunity is Comeing Very Soon. Los Angeles: R.J. Shaughnessy, 2009. p. 44. ISBN 9780979274848.
  9. ↑ Shaughnessy, RJ (2009). These Photographs Will Heal Your Soul. Los Angeles: RJ Shaughnessy. ISBN 0979274826.
  10. ↑ List of participants, Manifest Equality.
  11. ↑ , Milk and Honey.

External links

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