The Karl Ferris Psychedelic Experience at Proud Camden

There is no escaping it. Winter is definitely here for the foreseeable future. As the weather outside becomes too much to bare, we can find some sense of warmth this frosty period in a tantalising new retrospective of Karl Ferris work hosted at Proud Camden.

The Karl Ferris Psychedelic Experience transports us into a world of dynamic colour and groovy composition through one of the pioneers of 60s and 70s photography.

Karl Ferris was a groundbreaker and his portraits and album cover works literally shaped brands for many artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Donovan and Eric Clapton. Ferris’ approach takes on a very graphic design viewpoint of photography. The bold colours and shapes he used within his works made for striking and poignant pieces that spoke to audiences across the world.

As is so often the case, Proud Camden brings together the worlds of music and art, fantastically creating a masterful overview of both Ferris’ work and of the musical period through it. We are encapsulated in a genuine craftsman’s world.

Showing works spanning his career, Ferris’ detail and expertise can be appreciated all in one space. This creates an overwhelming retrospective of a man whose work was truly original and beautiful. His use of shape, colour and composition were all complimented perfectly by his innovative use of materials and lenses that were all very new at the time he was using them.

Iconic images such as the cover for Electric Ladyland and Are You Experienced line the walls of the gallery and remind us of just how prominent and important Ferris was to the music industry. He defined a genre and an era through his photography and the exhibition bring all his work together wonderfully.

Running from 6^th December until February, this is a must-see show for both music and photography lovers to get in touch with an icon and true inspiration.

Ruth Page

For further information about The Karl Ferris Psychedelic Experience visit Proud Camden website here.