Steve McCurry: ICONS

ICONS, one of the most complete retrospectives of famous American photographer, Steve McCurry, is preparing to launch at Sydney’s premier arts and culture hub, the Create NSW revitalised heritage Walsh Bay Arts Precinct on April 12, 2023.

Presented by pioneering production company, Sold Out, in partnership with Milan-based agency for internationally-renowned photographers, Sudest57; and leading global live-entertainment discovery platform, Fever, ICONS will feature more than 100 large-format photographs of McCurry’s most iconic images, including the legendary 1984 portrait of the Afghan Girl, Sharbat Gula which was famously featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine. The showing also includes other very well-known pictures he captured throughout his forty years of profession, as well as his most recent work.

Set against the backdrop of Sydney’s dazzling harbour foreshore, the ICONS exhibition will immerse guests in the photographic universe of Steve McCurry, through a journey that took him to some of the most beautiful and harrowing parts of the world. From Afghanistan to India, Southeast Asia to Africa, Cuba to the United States and Brazil to Italy, ICONS is a truly fascinating collection of images in which the human element is always the protagonist.  

Inspired by conflict, ancient traditions and contemporary culture, McCurry’s work represents the emotion of human suffering, joy and wonder, and features people of all ages, cultures and ethnicities - something he knew how to portray with surprising strength and naturalness.

Fever Originals Regional Manager for Australia, Phil Mallet, said, "We are incredibly honoured and excited to bring Steve McCurry’s ICONS exhibition to the Australian public, particularly against such a stunning backdrop as Sydney Harbour. We’re grateful to our partners and Create NSW for helping to make this long-awaited event a reality and for supporting Fever’s mission to democratise access to culture and live entertainment." 

Downloadable audio guides and videos will invite guests into the world of this renowned and intrepid photographer, revealing details and descriptions of 43 of McCurry’s pictures in his own words, as well as giving insight into his travels, his adventures and his profession.

ICONS, the unprecedented journey through the inspiration, life and work of Steve McCurry will open at Sydney’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct from April 12, 2023 until August 13, 2023.