Elton John and David Furnish’s Immense Photography Collection

Elton John and his husband David Furnish have collected over 7,000 pieces of fine art photography over the past thirty years.

John and Furnish are some of the biggest collectors of photography in the world. They both have a passion for photography and the impact that a beautiful image can have. John speaks about how seeing fashion photography as fine art changed everything for him. Being a celebrity himself, John has been photographed countless times and never paid attention to photography until he was with a friend at an art exhibition. As his friend was purchasing photos, John started to look at photography as art. John purchased ten photos that night.

One of the featured series in the video is Nan Golden’s “Thanksgiving,” which depicts the AIDS epidemic, drug addiction, and abuse. John recalls his addictions and how he was drawn to this series. John and Furnish also have an AIDS foundation, so the subject matter is important to both of them.

John and Furnish also have several prints from African American photographers who have been very underrepresented until now. As you may know, photographers like Tyler Mitchell and Wardell Milan are making a big mark in photography and the fine art photography world.

Robert Mapplethorpe is John and Furnish’s most collected artist, with over one hundred prints. One Mapplethorpe image is always hanging in each of their homes.

There are so many great images discussed in this video and so many great photographers. The power of a photograph is undeniable, and the importance of capturing a moment in time is how we will remember the significance of that period. As John says, “Nothing speaks the truth like a photograph.”