Three Weeks with Coco Chanel by Douglas Kirkland

Three Weeks with Coco Chanel by Douglas Kirkland provides an exclusive view of the fashion designer’s incredible life, captured by one of the world’s most legendary photographers. The exhibiton opens on Friday, 13 March at Hawaiian’s Claremont Quarter, in Perth, with up to 30 intimate images on display.

© David Kirkland
© Douglas Kirkland

No stranger to photographing some of the world’s most beloved icons, including Man Ray, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Judy Garland, among countless others, Douglas Kirkland fixed his lens on Chanel for twenty-one days in 1962. The resultis a distinctly unique look at the woman who transformed twentieth century fashion.

Sent to Paris on assignment for Look magazine, Kirkland ended up living with Chanel for three weeks, catching both the public and intimate moments of her daily life. This collection of never-before-seen photographs is as staggeringly beautiful as it is an impassioned portraiture, shedding new light on one of the great stories of the modern age.

“She wasn’t even sure I should photograph her,” Kirkland said. “She’d been photographed by Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, but she didn’t know me, so she made me photograph some fashion first, to prove myself.”

© David Kirkland
© Douglas Kirkland

Kirkland spent the next few days taking shots of models in Chanel outfits at famous Paris locations. Chanel was pleased with what she saw and allowed him to spend three weeks with her at the 31 Rue Cambon salon and workrooms. Commenting on the experience, Kirkland said, “Chanel had a great impact on me. She opened my eyes as a photographer, but also as a student of life. It was life-changing for me.”

© David Kirkland
© Douglas Kirkland

About David Kirkland

Douglas Kirkland is one of the best-known and longest-working photographers of our time. He began on assignment for Look and Life magazines, where he photographed icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlene Dietrich. He has also photographed on the sets of over 100 motion pictures including The Sound of Music, Moulin Rouge, Titanic, Out of Africa, and Saturday Night Fever.

Celebrity portraits include the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, Michelle Williams, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, and Arnold Schwarznegger. Kirkland has been named “Photographer of the Year” (PMDA) and “Mentor of the Year” (Fotofusion).

In February 2011, the American Society of Cinematographers ASC presented him with the prestigious President’s Award. In the summer of 2015, he received a special Nastri D’Argento (Silver Ribbon) at the International Taormina Film Festival. The Canadian Consul General in Los Angeles presented him with the Award of Excellence in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding accomplishments in September 2017. In Toronto, 2019, CAFA (Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards) gave him an outstanding achievement for his career in photography.

© David Kirkland
© Douglas Kirkland

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

April

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

May

Sydney: 15 May – 19 October. Showcasing 100 incredible images, this remarkable exhibition offers a window into the astonishing variety of life on our planet – and the critical importance of preserving it.

Perth: From 31 May – 28 Sept 2025. Featuring 85 works from three major series – Deep Springs, Overpass, and Cross Country – the exhibition spans twelve years of Contis’s evolving photographic practice.

June

Sydney: Until 6 July. Presenting the results of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, the annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year.

Melbourne: June 5 - 16 August 2025. The explore the history of Alan Adler's photobooths and their cultural significance, alongside visual stories told by the community.

Adelaide: 7 June – 16 August. Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection, this photographic exhibition captures the experience of lives lived through dance.

Melbourne: 7 June – 31 August. Protest is a Creative Act seeks to address issues around the body, sexuality, race, national identity and the environment.

Canberra; June 19 - July 12 2025. The River Report is a five-day map of when a normal Yitilal (wet season) turned into a major disaster and the local inhabitants were once again displaced.