Dianora Niccolini
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Dianora Niccolini (born October 1936, Florence, Italy) is a fine art photographer who is widely considered to be the female pioneer in the photography of the male nude.
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[edit] Biography
Dianora Niccolini was born in Florence, Italy to an American mother and a father from an old Florentine family. Dianora lived in Italy throughout the second world war until the age of nine when her mother moved the family to the United States.
When Dianora was 18, she left home to live in New York City and study art. Originally, Dianora studied ballet, but when she met Weegee, her passion turned to photography. Wanting to make it as a successful photographer, Dianora took any photo opportunity she could, taking headshots for friends and then taking a position as a medical photographer in a hospital. It was in this position as a medical photographer that Dinaora learned to appreciate the beauty of the human nude.
In 1973, Dianora began to create bodies of work which resulted in exhibits. She held her first photographic exhibit in 1974 - a serious study of the female nude. While excited by her first show, Dianora's true gift was photographing the male nude but until then, this was a style relegated to homosexual men and was still considered taboo.
Finally, in 1975, the Third Eye gallery in New York took a chance on this female photographer and the first ever exhibit of fine art male nudes was shown. It was an in-depth study of the male nude and featured one of Dianora's favorite subjects, an African-American bodybuilder. Fortunately, the exhibit was attended by New York Times art critic Gene Thornton, and on December 7, 1975, Dianora received a rave review for her work.
In 1979, Dianora took leadership of the Professional Women Photographers(PWP).She was president from 1979 until 1984. Under her guidance, PWP became recognized as the professional organization for women photographers.
In early 2005, Dianora began to embark on a new adventure - working with Mega Muscle Productions. The relationship has introduced Dianora to a new generation of fine art lovers and has allowed Dianora to continue on with her being a pioneer in the fine art world.[citation needed]
Dianora Niccolini has been published in countless magazines and books and has had multiple gallery showings. She has taught photography at the New York Institute of Technology and the New York Institute of Photography. Her influence can be seen in the work of photographers such as Herb Ritts, Robert Mapplethorpe and many other photographers who followed her.
[edit] Books
- Dianora Niccolini, Women of Vision, Unicorn Publishing House, NYC, 1982, ASIN B000IN0T0K
- Dianora Niccolini, Men in Focus, Morgan & Morgan, NYC, 1983, ISBN 978-0871001917
- David Leddick, Dianora Niccolini, Big Fun with Billy, Universe/Rizzoli, 2001, ISBN 978-0789305909
[edit] One-Woman Exhibitions
- 209 Photo Gallery, NYC,NY. DOUBLE EXPOSURE 1974
- Third Eye Gallery, NYC, NY. "THE FEMALE NUDE" 1974
- Top of the Stairs Gallery, NYC, NY. "THE FEMALE NUDE" 1974
- Third Eye Gallery. NYC, NY. "THE MALE NUDE" 1975
- Third Eye Gallery, NYC, NY. "THE MONA LISA SERIES" 1976
- Third Eye Gallery, NYC, NY. "POP PHOTART" 1977
- Y Arts Council, Phil., PA. "POP PHOTART" 1978
- Floating Foundation of Photography, NYC, "MONSTER SERIES" 1979
- Steve Bush Gallery, NYC. "THE MALE NUDE" 1981
- West Broadway Gallery, NYC. "PHOTO ALTERATIONS" 1981
- Photographics Unltd. Gallery. NYC." IN LOVING MEMORY" 1981
- The Camera Club, NYC. "EMERGENCY" 1981
- West Broadway Gallery, NYC. "MEN WATCHING" 1982
- Overseas Press Club, NYC. "MEN IN FOCUS" 1983
- Impulse Gallery, Provincetown, Ma. "MEN IN FOCUS" 1983
- Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery, NYC. "THE MALE NUDE" 1998
- Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery, NYC. "BILLY" 2001
- The Think Liquid Gallery,NYC.,"UNMASKING THE MALE".2003
[edit] Magazines
- APHRA, VOL.6, NO.1 WINTER. 1974-1975
- PHOTOGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Jan. 1975
- FUNCTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY. June 1978
- AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER, "The Undressed Man", Vicki Goldberg. 5/26/79
- POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY'S "HOW TO" MAGAZINE. 1979
- POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY, April 1978
- FUNCTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY (Contributing Editor- "At Large") 1980
- NEW YORK PHOTO DISTRICT NEWS (Contributing Editor- Reviews) 1980
- FV-FOTOGRAFIA de GLAMOUR, Portfolio, (Spanish magazine).1995/ 1-2Ano 8/ #78
- FOTO PRO, Portfolio, (Italian Magazine) Aug. 1992
- BLUE MAGAZINE.Portfolio.Australia. Feb. 1999
- BLUE MAGAZINE, Men In Blue, The First Five Years,.2002
- HOMMES UOMO (German magazine). Special Limited Edition.2005
- BLUE MAGAZINE. Portfolio. Australia. Dec. 2006
- THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY, Feminine Touch(England).March 2007
- PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER,The Gentle Touch( England).July 2007
[edit] Group Exhibitions
- International Photo optical Show - Wash., D.C., 1974
- International Photo Optical Show - Chicago, 1974
- The Interchurch Center, -Women Photographers of NY- NYC.1974
- Women's Interart Center, -A Summer exhibit of photos- NYC.1974
- The Camera Club of New York, Women Photographers of NY, NYC.1975
- South Street Seaport Museum, Women Photographers of NY, NYC.1975
- Donnell Library, Women photographers of NY, NYC. 1975
- Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Women photographers of NY, NYC.1975
- Union Carbide Building, Women Photographers of NY, NYC. 1975
- Fashion Institute of Technology, Breadth of Vision, NYC. 1975
- Neikrug Gallery, There is No Female Camera, NYC. 1975
- The Third Eye Gallery, New York Eyes, NYC. 1976
- The Italian Consulate, Italian American Artists, NYC. 1976
- ICP, First Annual Spring Show, NYC. 1976
- ICP, Women Photograph Men, NYC. 1976
- The Third Eye Gallery, Influx, NYC. 1976
- The Third Eye Gallery, Who's Who in Photography, NYC. 1976
- Witkin Gallery, Photography Auction to Refloat the Floating Foundation of Photography, NYC. 1976
- Women's Interart Center Sectional Images, NYC. 1977
- Union Carbide Building, Volunteer Service Photographers, NYC. 1977
- Neikrug Gallery, Rated X, NYC. 1977
- Images Gallery, Group Show, NYC. 1977
- Marcuse Pfeiffer Gallery, The Male Nude, NYC. 1978
- The French Embassy, Volunteer Service Photographers, NYC. 1978
- The Floating Foundation of Photography, Foods and other Pleasures, NYC. 1979
- Neikrug Gallery, Rated X, NYC. 1979
- Fotoforum, International Group Exhibition, Czechoslovakia, 1980
- Neikrug Gallery, Rated X, NYC. 1980
- Pratt University, Photofusion,NYC. 1981
- MIT Creative Photography Gallery, Group Show, Massachusetts. 1981
- 80 Centre Street, Generations, Views by Women Artists, NYC. 1982
- Foto Gallery, Male Nudes, S. Wales, UK.1983
- Silver Image Gallery, The Nude, Seattle, Wa.. 1990
- Gallery Stendhal, True Love and Other Stories. NYC. 1991
- Jacob Javitz Federal Building, Visual Individualists United,NYC. 1992
- The Museum Of Fine Arts, The Allan Chasanoff Photographic Collection, Houston, Texas. 1994
- The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The Body, Montreal, Canada. 1997
- The Curcio Spector Gallery, The Male Nude, NYC.1997
- Neikrug gallery, Rated X, NYC. 1993
- Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery,Male Nude (mini retrospective),NYC.1997
- Trevi Flash Art Museum, First International Biennial, Trevi, Italy. 1998
- Culturgest Museum of Fine Art, The Nude, Portugal. 1999
- The Fraser Gallery, Wash., D.C. "PHOTOGRAPHY ONLY", 2002
- Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery, Classic Beauty, 2006
- Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery, Classic Beauty 2,NYC,NY 2007
- Galerie David Guiraud,"Exposition d'Homme a Homme", Paris, France.2007
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts,Permanent collection, Tampa, Fl.2007-08
[edit] Permanent Collections
- The International Center of Photography (ICP), NYC.,NY.
- Erie Art Center, PA.
- The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Wash., DC.
- The Alternative Museum, NYC, NY.
- The Museum of Fine Arts, ( The Allan Chasanoff Photographic Collection), Houston, Texas.
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa, Fl.
- The Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL.
- The Kinsey Institute(Indiana University) Bloomington, Indiana
- The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL.
- The Harn Museum, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL.
- The Library of Congress, Wash.,D.C.
- The Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery, NYC, NY.
- The Carlos Museum at Emory University, Atlanta,Georgia.
[edit] Anthologies
- Artur Goldsmith History Of The Nude In Photography, Ridge Press, 1975
- D. Hayes Women Photograph Men, Wm Morrow, 1977
- McGraw Hill Women See Men, 1977
- Publisher New American Nudes, Morgan & Morgan, 1981
- Vermont The Male Nude in Photography, Crossroad Press, 1981
- Katalog Women Of Vision, Morgan & Morgan, 1982
- Katalog Das Aktfoto, Münchner Stadtmuseum, 1982
- Peter Weiermair Frauen Sehen Männer, Frankfurter Kunstverein/Edition Stemmle, Frankfurt, 1985/1995, ISBN 978-3905514667
- Emmanuel Cooper Fully Exposed, Routledge Publication, 1989/1995, ISBN 978-0415032797
- William A. Ewing The Body – Photographs of the Human Form, Chronicle Books, 1994, ISBN 978-0811807623
- Allan Chasanoff Tradition And The Unpredictable, Distributed Art Pub Inc, 1994, ISBN 978-0890900598
- Peter Weiermair Male Nudes By Women, Edition Stemmle, Frankfurt, 1995, ISBN 978-3905514674
- Stewart Tabori and Chang Eros, 1996
- Eikoh Hosoe Kobe Aid Fund World Photo, 1996
- David Leddick The Male Nude, Taschen Verlag, Köln, 1998, ISBN 978-3822857618
- Katalog 1st Int. Biennial of Contemporary Art, Trevi, 1998
- Michelle Olley Adonis – Masterpieces of Erotic Male Photography, Thunder Mouth Press, London, 1999, ISBN 978-1560252207
- Michelle Olley Homme, Edition Skylight, Carlton, 2000, ISBN 978-3283003685
- David Leddick Naked Men, Too – Liberating the Male Nude 1950-2000, Universe Publishing, New York, 2000, ISBN 978-0789303967
- Phil Braham Exposed – 90 of the World’s Greatest Photographers, Thunders Mouth Press, New York, 2000, ISBN 978-1560253013
- David Leddick Male Nude Now, Universe Publishing, New York, 2001, ISBN 978-0789306357
- Volker Janssen American Black Beauty, Vol.2, Janssen Publishers, Capetown, 2001, ISBN 978-0958431446
- Katalog Women By Women, Prestel Publishers, 2004
- Emmanuel Cooper Male Bodies – A Photographic History Of The Nude, Prestel Publishers, 2004, ISBN 978-3791330549
- David Leddick The Male Nude, Taschen Verlag, Köln, 2005, ISBN 978-3822841051
- Katalog Like Sand From Orchid’s Lips, TCB Cafe Publishing & Media, 2006
- Barbara J. Love Feminists Who Changed America - 1963-1975, University of illinois Press, 2006
- James Spada The Romantic Male Nude, Abrams Publishers, 2007, ISBN 978-0810993716
- Pierre Borhan Man for Man, The Vendome Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0865651869
