Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper was an actor, filmmaker, visual artist, and photographer. Though he is best known as the auteur of Easy Rider and as a prolific actor, with roles in some of the most iconic films of the 20th century, including Rebel Without a Cause, Blue Velvet and Apocalypse Now, he was also an active visual artist.

Hopper turned to photography after he was blacklisted by the director Henry Hathaway. Influenced by a range of actors and artists, including James Dean, Marcel Duchamp, and Andy Warhol, he produced paintings, assemblages, and hundreds of photographs in concentrated periods throughout his career.

Known for his realistic portrayals of drug addicts and eccentric characters, Hopper's oeuvre is characterised by his interest in Americana and those living on the fringes of society. Notable works include portraits of Martin Luther King, Jane Fonda, and Andy Warhol.

After the success of the film Easy Rider Hopper shot Drugstore Camera in Taos, NM in using disposable cameras documenting his secluded life. His work was given a major retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.