Peter Beard

Born: 1938, New York

Raised in New York City, Alabama and Bayberry Point, Long Island, Peter Beard began to keep diaries at an early age. He took his first pictures at twelve and photography quickly evolved into an extension of his diaries, as a way to preserve and remember vacations and favorite things. In 1957, Beard entered Yale University as a pre-medical student, but soon changed his focus to art history.

Trips to Africa in 1955 and 1960 piqued his interests and after graduating from Yale, he returned to Kenya via Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) in Rungstedlund, Denmark. In the early 60s he worked at Kenya's Tsavo National Park, photographing and documenting the demise of over 35,000 elephants and 5000 Black Rhinos - publishing two 'The End of the Game' books in 1965 and 1977.

The Blum Helman Gallery in New York staged his first exhibition in 1975, followed in 1977 by the landmark installation of his photographs, elephant carcasses, burned diaries, taxidermy, African artifacts, books and personal memorabilia at the International Center of Photography in New York City. In addition to creating original artwork, Beard has collaborated on projects with many artists including, Andy Warhol, Andrew Wyeth, Richard Lindner, Terry Southern, Truman Capote, and Francis Bacon.

Peter Beard lives and works in New York City, Montauk and Kenya.