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pp hartnett :
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photographer
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writer
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mentor
Documenting ever-evolving cycles of youth in transition, photographer and writer Peter Paul Hartnett has spent over four decades both on the fringes of society and within the diverse scrums of global subcultures.
'Street style photography differs greatly from fashion event snapping. True street style photographers do not suck up to editors, brands or PRs. I consider myself quite apart from the digital generation of cultural and critical observers.'
Long before the digi-based wave of self-appointed bloggers yapping their opinions online, Peter Paul Hartnett gained unfettered access to style hotspots, getting in close to contemporary transformers, intent upon capturing true originators rather than flattering fashionistas so intent on gaining product placement.
'On one level, my photographic work appears to be concerned with street and club culture, emerging trends. Going deeper, the heart of my work is social research into vibrant subcultures in which gender variance and full-on surfaced fetishism has become the norm.'
Hartnett is an established photographer and writer, revered for his ability to identify key details of fashion innovations that lead. He is recognised as having an acute awareness of what's new and next. His photographic archive and collections are unmatched in scope and detail.
'As both a photographer and writer, I graze across cultures and industry sectors, in search of distinctive individuals within heterophyllous groups that contain ethnically and socially diverse networks.'
'My intention has been to track originators, innovators and early adopters of directional style backed up by unique philosophies.'
Attuned to consumer mindsets, Peter Paul Hartnett's extensive body of work has a sharp focus upon the identification and assessment of trends and human behaviour. Hartnett has been documenting youth in transition since the birth of PUNK back in 1976, establishing himself as a key chronicler of style, long before the emergence of bloggers, who are so often virtue signalling in a relentless style bubble rather than having the ability to caption a photograph.
'Ever since 1976, I've specialised in social trawling, with an eye upon style tribes within youth culture and non-conforming 'alt' scenes. Since the age of eighteen, I've detected and tracked changes in the way brave souls both race and rage from the closet, motivated to express themselves. I document the 'braille', the bumps that protrude within an urban setting and clubland, style-fixated landscapes. My intention has always been to produce work of both a Social History and Fashion History significance.'
Over forty years since he began his unique career path in 1976, developing and printing his own work shot on film, Peter Paul Hartnett has been described as 'the ultimate street and club-style photographer'.
King Adz, co-author of Streetwear (Thames & Hudson, 2018) has described Hartnett as 'The Original. The first British street style photographer. He has this eye of spotting the real and leaving the fake.'
Peter Paul Hartnett took his first nightclub photograph of punk icon Soo Catwoman at Bang Disco, London, in October 1976. Ten years later, Hartnett closed Leigh Bowery’s Taboo with a candid disclosure made to You, Mail on Sunday, about the illegal use of drugs within clubland, each word hammering a nail into the Bowery disco coffin.
'When heroin began to slam into London's clubland in a big way, particularly in and around the Steve Strange and Rusty Egan one nighters after the implosion of the Sex Pistols, I fled to Tokyo for a year, returning to the sight of Boy George with a 24" waist.'
What sets Hartnett apart from others who emerged in the late 70s and early 80s within street and club culture, is the fact that Hartnett was working and continues to work within the fashion industry on a range of levels, preferring to keep a relatively low profile.
Hartnett's photographic work has been internationally published in a wide range of books produced by Laurence King, Harper Collins plus Thames & Hudson. Editorial work has featured within publications such as i-D, Dazed & Confused, British Elle, British Vogue, Vogue (Paris), Vogue (Brasil), Vogue Daily, Vogue Hommes, Vision (China), Dansk, dazeddigital.com, hungertv.com, fashionunfiltered.com, V-Man, Interview, XLR8R, Q, Uncut, NME, GQ, Esquire, The World of Interiors, Grazia, Têtu, Fused, Time Out (London), Metro, Huffington Post, PETRIe, Jocks & Nerds, The New York Times, The Observer Magazine, The Independent, The Independent Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, W Magazine and Welt amongst others.
Fashion forecasting work includes WGSN reports in six categories over a number of years, retaining all (c), with television broadcast ranging from MTV, VH1, RTL and BBC to Channel 4, Euronews and Discovery / TLC, part of the panel for seven episodes in Ultimate Shopper.
Assisted by students of Photography from a range of leading colleges and universities, Hartnett's recent 'harvesting' has revolved around international innovators during Tokyo's Amazon Fashion Week, London's Graduate Fashion Week, London Fashion Week Men's, Free Range (London), annual LGBT events.
'Having documented nightlife for so many years, I am a man who has slept years of daylight. I have always been drawn to those who are fiercely driven and those who transform the cultural landscape can often take unexpected, defiant forms. From Leigh Bowery's muse and greatest work of art, Trojan, to designer Matty Bovan, I'm interested in style that challenges, style with substance.'
'Within my photographic practice, I'm often drawn towards forms of attractiveness that strike as strange, unique, or deviant, representation which falls outside of the confined parameters of normative beauty.'
'Two of my favourite events to attend are London's Free Range exhibitions by graduates, where I style stalk Fine Art students, plus the Central Saint Martin's BA and MA shows, where I meet with graduates who talk me through their work.'
The Hartnett Vintage Collection
1870 - 1950
These found materials reflect an interest in Social History with a street-style and studio portraiture edge, as well as alternative photographic processes, such as the tintype.
This collection flows neatly into a contemporary collection of mid-twentieth century and more recent street and club-style photographers of the twenty first century.
'Such work needs to find a significant home.'
The Hartnett Contemporary Collection
1950 - NOW
My contemporary collection contains a wide range of signed, limited edition, silver gelatin prints by photographers Ray Stevenson, Gavin Watson, Caroline Coon, Derek Ridgers, Janette Beckman, Ted Polhemus, Erica Echenberg, Herbie Yamaguchi, Sheila Rock, Molly Macindoe, Lee Black Childers, Graham Smith, Iain McKell, Ashley Savage, Colin Jones, Barry Plummer, David Corio, Syd Shelton, Dave Swindells, Peter Anderson, Pascal Heeren, Paul Vickery and Mark Charnock, amongst others.
The Hartnett Archive
street-style, club-style
1976 - NOW
Print sales range from 1,250 - 2,750 pounds
Print sales are handled by Kerry Moran
Signed, editioned, traditional Fine Art silver gelatin prints are available, subject to suitable request in writing and availability.
These darkroom-generated, double-weighted, fibre based prints have no aspect of digital technology involved within the procedure of production at any stage.
Peter Paul Hartnett's non-digital black and white portraits veer towards being ethereal, minimalist works, drawing upon the appreciation of imperfection and transience. The tight confinement of his carefully exposed, toned and hand-finished silver gelatin prints are important aspects as the subjects emerge from the delicate surfaces.
Similarly, a selection of signed, editioned, traditional Fine Art prints from colour negatives are available, subject to suitable request and availability.
Again, the colour neg images have no aspect of digital technology involved within the procedure of production at any stage.
A small selection of signed, editioned Fine Art prints are available from digital files, produced on German etching paper. Available subject to suitable request and availability.
Traditional Fine Art printers employed for production of silver gelatin prints include Bob Wiskin at Grade One Photographic, Debbie Sears at Three Trays and Peter Guest at Image.
Traditional colour neg and Fine Art digital printers are solely produced by Bryan O'Leary and Chris Ashman at Artful Dodgers, Hatton Garden. Spotting and retouching by Kevin O’Neill, based withn Artful Dodgers, London.
Print sales range from 1,250 - 2,750 pounds
Print sales are handled by Kerry Moran
2026 January - November
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales by e-
hartnett@hartnett.uk.com
2025 January - November
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales by e-
hartnett@hartnett.uk.com
2024 January - November
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales by e-
hartnett@hartnett.uk.com
2023 January - November
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales by e-
hartnett@hartnett.uk.com
2022 May - July
Group show
Welcome To Queer Britain
Curated by Matthew Storey
Queer Britain Museum
King's Cross, London
2022 January - February
The Two Faces Of Tinseltown
Polaroids alongside work by Julian Stanislaw Kalinowski
Dries Van Noten Gallery La Cienega Blvd, LA
2022 January - November
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales by e-
hartnett@hartnett.uk.com
2021 January - November
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales by e-
hartnett@hartnett.uk.com
2020 September
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, London
By appointment only
2019 June
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, London
By appointment only
2018 September
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, Haworth
By appointment only
2018 May
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, London
By appointment only
2018 March - September
Night Fever
Vitra Design Museum
Weil Am Rhein, Germany
2017 September
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, London
By appointment only
2017 June
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, Haworth
By appointment only
2016 December
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, Leeds
By appointment only
2016 October
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, Tokyo
By appointment only
2016 September
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, Manchester
By appointment only
2016 June
The Hartnett Archive
Print sales, Haworth
By appointment only
2015 Dec - Feb 2016
Lost In Music
Group show, PYMCA
Printspace Gallery Shoreditch, London
2015 June - September
One Nation Under A Groove
Group show, PYMCA
Southbank Centre, London
2015 December
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Gdansk
By appointment only
2015 November
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Reykjavik
By appointment only
2015 October
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Helsinki
By appointment only
2015 September
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Oslo
By appointment only
2015 August
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Zurich
By appointment only
2015 July
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Moscow
By appointment only
2015 June
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, St. Petersburg
By appointment only
2015 May
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Copenhagen
By appointment only
2015 April
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Berlin
By appointment only
2015 March
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Den Haag
By appointment only
2015 February
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Tel Aviv
By appointment only
2015 January
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Istanbul
By appointment only
2014 December
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Rome
By appointment only
2014 November
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Tokyo
By appointment only
2014 October
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Antwerp
By appointment only
2014 September
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Paris
By appointment only
2014 August
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Ottawa
By appointment only
2014 July
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, NYC
By appointment only
2014 June
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Beijing
By appointment only
2014 May
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Shanghai
By appointment only
2014 April
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Auckland
By appointment only
2014 March
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Canberra
By appointment only
2014 February
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, New Delhi
By appointment only
2014 January
The Hartnett Archive
Solo show, Brasilia
By appointment only
2014
Wall - Wall
Oi Oi The Shop
Camden, London
2013
From Club to Catwalk
Group show
V & A Museum
South Kensington, London
2013
Stick the boot in
Solo show
British Boot Company
Camden, London
2013
Skinternational
Solo show
The Town Club
Isle of Wight, UK
2013
You’re goin’ home in a
fuckin’ ambulance
Solo show
Talbot Social Club
Blackpool, UK
2013
Don’t give me that shit
Solo show
The Victory
Blackpool, UK
2013
What you lookin’ at?
Solo show
West Coast Bar
Margate, UK
2012
Yeah mate
Solo show
West Coast Bar
Margate, UK
2011
Oi! Yeah you!
Solo show
British Boot Company
Camden, London
2011
Youth Club
Group show
Youth Club Gallery
Carnaby Street, London
2010
Streetstyle
Group show
The Book Club
Bethnal Green, London
2010
Noughtie Nightlife
Group show
Rich Mix
Bethnal Green, London
2009
Unordinary People
Group show
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London
2008
Fashion v Sport
Group show
V & A Museum
South Kensington, London
2008
All That Glitters
Solo show
Sosho, London
2008
Hartnett ‘76 > NOW
Solo show
Vibe
Bethnal Green, London
2007
Show Offs
Group show
Curated by Charles Williams
Another Late Night
Microzine, Liverpool
2007
Hair
Group show
PYMCA Gallery
Clerkenwell, London
2007
This Was England
Group show
National Film Institute
Southbank, London
2007
Fear of a Young Planet
Group show
Kong Gallery, Shanghai
2006
Into The Camera
Solo show
Colne, UK
By appointment only
2005
Faces
Group show
PYMCA Gallery
Clerkenwell, London
2004
A Day In The Life
Of The City
Group show
Urbis, Manchester, UK
2004
Butterflies & Moths, Mounted
Solo show
LGF, Manchester, UK
2003
Bohemia
Talk and slide show on Bohemia / Street-style with Michael Bracewell, Philip Hoare
Tate Britain, London
2002
The Legend of Leigh Bowery
Symposium on Leigh Bowery with Michael Bracewell, Matt Lucas and biographer Sue Tilley
Tate Britain, London
2001
Pride
Group show
ICA, London
2000
Midnight's Children
Solo show
Freedom, London
1999
So Dysfunctional
Solo show
Ego
Soho, London
1996
Shooting Up
Solo show
Levi's Gallery, London
1995
Tribute to Leigh Bowery
Group show
Curated by Tanya Bonakdar
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
Chelsea, NYC
1995
Leigh Bowery Memorial
Group show
Curator: Johnnie Shand Kydd
The Fine Arts Society
New Bond Street, London
1990
The 80s…
Fat Sue & Other Jokes
Solo show
The Triangle
Clerkenwell, London
1989
Morgue
Solo show
The Triangle
Clerkenwell, London
1988
Dead Upon Arrival
Solo show
The Triangle
Clerkenwell, London
1987
Disco Sodom
Solo show
The Triangle
Clerkenwell, London
1986
The Taboo Polaroids
Solo show
The Triangle
Clerkenwell, London
1985
Trojan v Leigh
Solo show
Old Compton Street
Soho, London
1984
Messed-Up
Solo show
Tyler’s Court
Soho, London
1983
£1 PUNKS
Solo show
King’s Road, London
1982
Cartoon Couture
Solo show
Azabu Juban, Tokyo
1981
Simasen…
Solo show
Azabu Juban, Tokyo
1980
Suddenly There
Solo show
Tyler’s Court
Soho, London
1979
Smell This
Solo show
Strawberry Hill
Twickenham, UK
1978
The Photocopies
Solo show
Tyler’s Court
Soho, London
1977
Processed by Boots
Solo show
Tyler’s Court
Soho, London
1976
Kodak Instamatic
Solo show
Bedroom
Ealing, London
1968
Trapped In Shallow Puddles
Solo show
St Benedict’s School
Ealing, London