Annie Leibovitz

American, 1949-Present

Annie Leibovitz is one of the most influential portrait photographers of the contemporary era, known for her stylized and intimate images of cultural icons. Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and trained at the San Francisco Art Institute, she began her career at Rolling Stone, where she became chief photographer in 1973.

Leibovitz gained acclaim for her candid documentation of musicians, including the Rolling Stones’ 1975 tour, and her iconic 1980 portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono—taken just hours before Lennon’s death. In 1983, she joined Vanity Fair, broadening her scope to include actors, athletes, and political figures, while also producing major advertising campaigns.

She was the first woman to exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and has published several landmark books, including Women, created in collaboration with writer Susan Sontag. Her images blend theatricality with emotion, redefining the boundaries between art and editorial. Across decades, her lens has shaped how we see fame, identity, and modern history.