LONDON.- Running to 15 July, new arts stage Ladbroke Hall will provide a taste of its forthcoming cultural programme with ‘Buffalo: Future Generation’, an exhibition premiering ground-breaking photographer Jamie Morgan’s latest body of work. Free to the public, the exhibition presents an ongoing and inclusive photographic project that revisits the disruptive and radical Buffalo style movement that was born in 1980s Ladbroke Grove. Future Generation portrays individuals, styled by Kimi O’Neill, found through street-casting and also in the children of friends Morgan has developed over his illustrious career, including Kate Moss, Ozwald Boateng and Annie Morris.

The series is a celebration of British youth, representing its diverse identity today. The result is an indomitable record of contemporary Britain. ‘Buffalo: Future Generation’ presents a total of 30 single-edition prints that will be sold to fundraise for THE DALGARNO TRUST, a community centre in the heart of Ladbroke Grove.

Jamie Morgan began his photographic career in the late 1970s as a teenager, photographing the emerging New Romantic cultural wave on the streets of London. Morgan is best known for adopting street casting in new ways and rejecting binary gender conformity in his life-long photographic celebration of individuality and agency for all. His first subjects were the icons of gender non-conformity, including Boy George, Steve Strange, Marilyn. With stylist Ray Petri, Morgan co-founded Buffalo. The name of the movement stems from a Caribbean expression that Petri adopted which was used to describe rude boys and rebels. Buffalo clashed gender, age and cultural stereotypes to better reflecting the diversity and lived experiences of British youth culture. It styled tough men with skirts and boots, combined utility sportswear with high fashion, cast boys as girls and children as adults. It reflected a generation emerging from an era of depression that was radically intent on self-expression through punk and DIY.

On the new series, Jamie Morgan says, “I photograph kids, not cute and smiling as is generally seen, but serious portraits, with each subject having their own individual character. We celebrate gender filuidity, allowing their firee expression. These young people are the most real and honest subjects. They hold their strength and integrity simultaneously with their innocence. A photo shoot can be challenging as they need to fiocus but it is always an exciting experience and they fieel seen, special and empowered. It is a great inspiration to me to know that we have captured
them in a moment that will soon be gone fiorever.”

“To be trusted to showcase Jamie’s latest body ofi work so close to where Bufifialo was born means a lot to us and is a great honour fior the launch ofi Ladbroke Hall’s cultural programme. The exhibition demonstrates our commitment to celebrating the contributions local residents have made to the global landscape. This is a symbolic and important gesture ofi the exciting programme we are creating here and we cannot wait to welcome firiends, new and old” says Loic Le Gaillard, co-founder of Ladbroke Hall and Carpenters Workshop Gallery.

Ladbroke Hall will present a vibrant and packed cultural programme of the most cutting-edge talent across music, theatre, film, dance and art from September onwards. Eager to welcome the public, it is sharing a taster programme from June of short exhibitions, screenings, theatre and music performances.

JAMIE MORGAN

Jamie Morgan is a ground- breaking British photographer who has been instrumental in the story of fashion image-making and the visual definition of style culture. Morgan changed our perception of human beauty and was one of the first fashion image- makers to use street casting in radical ways. Morgan draws people of all ages and cultures into his photographic projects and has visually manifested the diversity and character of British style for over 40 years. He has constantly created iconic images that celebrate gender fluidity, starting at a time when traditional, binary gender roles were set.

LADBROKE HALL

Ladbroke Hall is our new Arts stage on which to experience creative expression in its
many forms: contemporary art, collectible design, dance, culture, dining and music. Open to the public and patrons, the reimagined 43,000 square foot space connects to the renewed cultural vitality in the Notting Hill area. Ladbroke Hall is steered by Loïc Le Gaillard and Julien Lombrail, founders of Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the global
leading gallery in collectible design and functional art whose London gallery space will now be based in Ladbroke Hall. It also has galleries in Paris, New York and Los Angeles.

Ladbroke Hall
Buffalo: Future Generation
June 29th, 2023 to July 15th, 2023