A selection of prints from the personal photo collection of celebrity photographer Darry Lyons, aka ‘Mr Paparazzi’, are up for sale as the Big Pictures photo agency founder looks to ‘wind down and appreciate the simpler things in life.’
Gibsons Auctions in Victoria, Australia are running the sale – online bids are up and running now for the auction set for Tuesday 24 September.
From the catalogue:
‘Quickly adopting the nickname ‘Mr Paparazzi’, Lyons rose to infamy in the London tabloid scene and established many integral acquaintances with celebrities and royalty. English tabloids had an insatiable thirst for celebrity paparazzi photography, Lyons had the ride-or-die attitude required for the job. He later worked for the Daily Mail covering revolutions in Romania and Czechoslovakia and was in Sarajevo early in the Bosnian conflict, often facing life threatening situations. His coverage earned him the coveted awards Best News Photographer and Press Photographer of the Year, two highly respected accolades in the field of journalism and photography, and won numerous other awards around the world.
Lyons later founded the paparazzi agency Big Pictures in 1993, capitalising on the growing demand for candid celebrity content. “My ambition was clear – I always wanted to be a millionaire before I was thirty, and the drive to achieve that was a huge push.” His company was hugely successful, contracting photographers and licensing their images to newspapers and media outlets around the world for high prices.
Alongside his professional achievements, Lyons fulfilled a personal milestone in his art collecting journey. On a trip to New York, Lyons wandered into a gallery and saw a suite of six Andy Warhol works. He had dreamed of owning one and (until then) hadn’t felt it was within his reach. Enquiring about one of the pieces, the gallerist explained the suite must be purchased together. In a stroke of serendipity, Big Pictures had just sold an image for a large sum to multiple press outlets – it was a green light to purchase the Warhol suite that would launch Darryn’s art collection into overdrive. The photographer shifted focus to collecting art with his inherently boisterous energy – enamoured with the idea of owning and collecting beautiful works of art to don the walls of his many residences.
Lyons has achieved many milestones in his life: paparazzi and news photographer, mayor and gallerist. From encounters with celebrities on luxury yachts in the south of France to near-death experiences as Bosnian war correspondent, Lyons has a myriad of stories to tell. He reflects and marvels on the incredible moments he has witnessed throughout his vast and varied career. He is parting with these selected artworks in order to wind down and appreciate the simpler things in life.
Gravitating towards a more serene and luxurious lifestyle, much like a Slim Aarons photograph (a few of which feature in this sale), there will be plenty of poolside scenes and time to enjoy life’s sweet nuances. He has accumulated immense depth and enjoyment from his art collection and is pleased to entrust these pieces to new collectors who will equally adore their vibrancy and splendour.’