Willy Rizzo, a transplanted Italian, came to Paris in the 30's, discovered a passion for photography and created a career for himself that took him from taking portraits of friends and family to photographing the most famous people and events of our time.
Working during the golden age of photojournalism, he worked with the likes of Bridget Bardot, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. He was the last person to photograph Marilyn Monroe just two weeks before her death. During his time at France Dimanche and Paris Match, he was the one covering the Cannes Film Festival, giving him access to all of Hollywood.
His small gallery in the 7th arrondissement is a revolving door of expositions centered on his famous photographs. Most recently was this exhibit focused around Coco Chanel. Candid shots of all the behind the scene activity in her salon on Rue Cambon, as well as, photos of her in the Tuilleries gardens and her apartment were part of the retrospective. It was an intimate look into a golden era that unfortunately, no longer exists.
If you get the chance, be sure to put his gallery on your to-do list.
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