The Grateful Dead was one of the most successful bands of all time. Now, their ever-evolving legacy is the focus of a photography show marking the band’s 60th anniversary in Los Angeles. David Kordansky Gallery will present “An American Beauty: Grateful Dead 1965–1995,” from July 15th to August 16th. The show is curated by American photographer Jay Blakesberg and his daughter, Ricki, and coincides with the release of a new book of the same name. The publication officially launches August 1st, on what would have been lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia’s 83rd birthday.
The exhibition features 28 large-scale and 32 smaller prints, selected from 275 photographs included in the book. It features works by eight photographers who traveled with the Grateful Dead, including Blaskesberg, Ron Rakow, Rosie McGee, Adrian Boot, Beth Sunflower, Snooky Flowers, Jonathan David Sabin, and Andy Leonard. The images chronicle the band’s history, from the early performances in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco to massive stadium-size tours.
The photographs also document the band’s devoted fan base, known affectionately as Deadheads. Many of the photographers began as Deadheads themselves, using their cameras to capture the ecstatic, participatory nature of Grateful Dead shows.
“I’ve been looking at some of these photographs of the Grateful Dead and Deadheads since I was 12 years old,” founder David Kordansky said in a press statement. “To say that they are formative parts of my visual life—and important factors in my decision to devote my life to art and creativity—would be an understatement.”
Previously shown at the Haight Street Art Center and in Las Vegas as part of the Dead Forever Experience, the exhibition explores the cultural legacy of the band and the people who surrounded it. “These photographs tell the story of a movement, a family, and a spirit that continues to inspire new generations,” said Jay Blakesberg.
The exhibition will showcase how the concerts served as a community meeting ground for this subcultural movement, drawing crowds from around the world for three decades. These images are “crucial documents for understanding how American culture—including music, visual art, and technology—has evolved since the 1960s,” Kordansky added.
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