John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
The official touring exhibition

John Lennon

The New York Years
Photographs by Bob Gruen · 1971–1980
The Music Photo GalleryMuseum exhibition120+ works
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The exhibition

Nine years inside John Lennon’s New York, seen by the friend who was there.

John Lennon: The New York Years by Bob Gruen is the official exhibition of John Lennon’s life in New York City, told through the photographs of the man who knew him there best. Bob Gruen was John and Yoko Ono’s personal photographer and close friend from 1971 until 1980.

The exhibition premiered in 2013 at the Centro Cultural Recoleta in Buenos Aires, where it set a record for the city: around 500,000 visitors between June 19 and July 7, the most visited exhibition in the venue’s history. Planned for five days, it was extended for two more weeks to meet public demand.

The Buenos Aires edition brought together more than 120 large-format photographs, a full-scale replica of the Imagine mosaic, installations, music and video, live bands, talks with Bob Gruen, photography workshops and a special event with the U.S. Embassy in Argentina.

Since then it has traveled to more than 30 cities, including Rosario, Córdoba, Corrientes, Santiago del Estero and Mar del Plata, and in 2020 to the Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS) in São Paulo, where it was curated for Brazilian audiences by journalist Ricardo Alexandre.

Beyond the public image of a former Beatle and international icon, Gruen’s photographs offer an intimate portrait of Lennon in New York: his life with Yoko Ono, his role as a father, his creative and political engagement, and the everyday moments that unfolded away from the stage.

The exhibition is currently touring Latin America, with editions adapted to each venue. For touring inquiries: info@themusicphotogallery.com

What visitors experience
140+
large-format photographs by Bob Gruen
35
original videos and archival footage
2 h
of music filling the rooms
7 m
timeline of the New York years
1:1
replica of the Imagine mosaic
30+
cities on tour
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
500,000
visitors in 19 days

The exhibition premiered at the Centro Cultural Recoleta in Buenos Aires from June 19 to July 7, 2013. Planned for five days, it was extended to meet public demand and became the most visited exhibition in the venue’s history.

Inside the exhibition

More than photographs.

John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
  1. 01

    The Imagine circle

    A full-scale replica of the Strawberry Fields mosaic at the heart of the exhibition.

  2. 02

    Large-format portraits

    More than 140 photographs, from the New York City T-shirt to the Walls and Bridges sessions.

  3. 03

    Contact sheets

    Original sequences that reveal how the defining images of Lennon’s life were made.

  4. 04

    Music and film

    Two hours of music and 35 videos fill the rooms, with screenings of John Lennon NYC and Rock ’n’ Roll Exposed.

  5. 05

    Timeline

    Seven metres tracing John and Yoko’s life in New York, from 1971 to 1980.

Editions

Where the exhibition has been.

Centro Cultural Recoleta
2013 · Premiere

Centro Cultural Recoleta

Buenos Aires, Argentina · June 19 – July 7, 2013
500,000 visitors in 19 days

The world premiere. Planned for five days, the exhibition was extended to meet public demand and became the most visited in the venue's history.

Centro Cultural RecoletaCentro Cultural RecoletaCentro Cultural RecoletaCentro Cultural Recoleta
2011 · Presentation

New York

New York, USA
With Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney

Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney visited the exhibition in New York.

Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS)
2020 · Museum

Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS)

São Paulo, Brazil
Curated by Ricardo Alexandre

Curated for Brazilian audiences by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, with immersive rooms that included a recreation of Central Park and the Strawberry Fields mosaic.

Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS)Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS)Central Park and Strawberry Fields installation in John Lennon: The New York Years by Bob Gruen at the Museum of Image and Sound (MIS), São Paulo, Brazil.Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS)
Bob’s magical photographs and brilliantly written captions come together to create a kaleidoscopic portrait of John Lennon’s years in New York. It is beautiful, clear, and truthful. I know—I was there.
— Yoko Ono
Installation views

55 views of the exhibition.

John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
Gallery installation view of John Lennon: The New York Years by Bob Gruen at the Museum of Image and Sound (MIS), São Paulo, Brazil.
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
Central Park and Strawberry Fields installation in John Lennon: The New York Years by Bob Gruen at the Museum of Image and Sound (MIS), São Paulo, Brazil.
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
Around the exhibition

A season of events.

Each edition becomes a cultural event in its city. Bob Gruen tells the stories behind the photographs in person or live from New York, and the programme reaches schools, musicians, photographers and families.

  • Opening with Bob Gruen
  • Talks and press conference
  • Photography workshops
  • Guided tours for schools
  • Live music and tribute nights
  • Film screenings
  • Book and catalogue signings
John Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob GruenJohn Lennon: "The New York Years" by Bob Gruen
Moving Image / Archive

Films & Television

Interviews, documentaries and television features related to the exhibition.

Selected Press

In the press.

Page Six

Beatlemania at Bob Gruen show

Coverage of Bob Gruen's 2013 John Lennon exhibition at Centro Cultural Recoleta in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires City Government

About 500,000 people visited the John Lennon exhibition

The city government reported that the 2013 exhibition was Centro Cultural Recoleta's most visited at the time.

Rolling Stone

Exposição inédita de John Lennon chega a São Paulo; veja as datas e ingressos

Para celebrar a lendária carreira de John Lennon, o fotógrafo Bob Gruen apresentará uma mostra fotográfica sobre o dia a dia do músico em Nova York

Folha de Sao Paulo

John Lennon em Nova York, por Bob Gruen

Fotografias de John Lennon tiradas por Bob Gruen durante o tempo que o ex-beatle viveu em Nova York são expostas no MIS

Globo

Exposição inédita leva fotos raras de John Lennon a São Paulo; veja em primeira mão

Acervo conta com imagens clássicas e inéditas do ex-beatle no período em que ele morou em Nova York e conta história de amizade com o fotógrafo Bob Gruen.

New York Magazine

Legend of a Photo

New York Magazine revisits the creation of Bob Gruen’s celebrated portrait of John Lennon in New York City, tracing the history and cultural impact of this defining image.

Folha de S.Paulo

Anos de John Lennon em NY, quando era monitorado pela CIA, são tema de mostra no MIS

Reportagem de Thales de Menezes sobre a exposição de Bob Gruen, sua amizade com Lennon e os retratos realizados em Nova York.

VEJA São Paulo

13 fotos de John Lennon que vão estar no MIS

Seleção comentada das fotografias apresentadas no MIS, com contexto do curador Ricardo Alexandre.

VEJA São Paulo

MIS abre exposição sobre John Lennon nesta sexta (13)

Cobertura de abertura da mostra, destacando a proximidade de Bob Gruen com John Lennon e as imagens históricas.

UOL

Exposição “John Lennon em Nova York” com fotos de Bob Gruen estreia no MIS

Reportagem sobre a inauguração, a seleção fotográfica e a presença de Bob Gruen na abertura em São Paulo.

Exame

Exposição com fotos de John Lennon, por Bob Gruen, começa em São Paulo

Cobertura da exposição no MIS e do olhar de Gruen sobre a vida do músico durante seus anos em Nova York.

TV Brasil

John Lennon completaria 80 anos — entrevista com Bob Gruen

Reportagem televisiva sobre a exposição no MIS com entrevista de Bob Gruen gravada em São Paulo em março de 2020.

Harper’s Bazaar Brasil

Radar 2020: John Lennon ganha expo no MIS de São Paulo

Apresentação antecipada do projeto e de sua proposta de reunir fotografias e registros audiovisuais.

Folha de S.Paulo

Bob Gruen virá ao Brasil para abertura de exposição de John Lennon

A coluna de Mônica Bergamo anuncia a visita de Bob Gruen ao MIS e sua conversa com o público.

MIS São Paulo

John Lennon em Nova York por Bob Gruen — Arquivo do Museu

Registro institucional da exposição, da curadoria de Ricardo Alexandre e da temporada no Museu da Imagem e do Som.

Touring history
7
featured venues
  • Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2013)
  • Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, Rosario, Argentina
  • Plaza de la Música, Córdoba, Argentina
  • Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Corrientes, Argentina
  • Centro Cultural Bicentenario, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
  • Centro Cultural Estación Terminal Sur, Mar del Plata, Argentina
  • Museum of Image and Sound (MIS), São Paulo, Brazil (2020)
Touring

Bring the exhibition to your city.

Available for museums, cultural institutions, festivals and commercial venues worldwide, in editions adapted to each space. Contact the gallery for formats, availability and the touring dossier.

Request exhibition information