Discover music, culture and Black British identity through the lens of Dennis Morris.
Opening at The Photographers’ Gallery this June, Music + Life celebrates the work of British-Jamaican photographer Dennis Morris. Renowned for his intimate portraits of cultural icons such as Bob Marley, The Sex Pistols and Marianne Faithfull, Morris’s images are a vivid exploration of music, identity and social change.
Music + Life captures the spirit of some of the most pivotal moments in 20th-century culture, from the soulful vibrancy of reggae to the rebellious energy of punk. Morris provides a rare glimpse into the lives of legendary musicians, revealing the trust and connection he forged with his subjects. His candid photographs of Bob Marley, both on and off stage, along with the raw, chaotic world of The Sex Pistols, illustrate his unique ability to capture the personalities behind the music.
His long and fruitful collaboration with Bob Marley began when he was just 14. He bunked off school and asked Marley if he could photograph him. His work with Marley caught the eye of reggae fan John Lydon and he went on to become The Sex Pistols’ official photographer, capturing their chaotic rise and wild, anarchic performances and life behind the scenes.
Music + Life highlights Morris’s early documentary work, which reflects life in the multicultural neighbourhoods of post-war London. His powerful series of photographs, such as Growing Up Black, Southall and This Happy Breed document everyday life and Black and Asian British culture, and celebrate the pride and resilience of communities often overlooked, capturing their challenges and triumphs with authenticity and respect. He vividly documented the arrival of sound systems in England and the late-night blues dances where the Jamaican community gathered to dance to reggae, capturing the spirit of a vibrant self-made culture.
Music + Life brings together Morris’s work capturing Black British culture in the 1970s, with a who’s who of music legends and stars of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Images will include reggae pioneers Bob Marley, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and The Abyssinians; punk groundbreakers The Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd and The Slits; Oasis, The Stone Roses, Patti Smith, Grace Jones, The Prodigy, and many more. Records, merchandise and graphic design created by Morris will also be on show, including the iconic PiL Metal Box.
Listings
Dennis Morris: Music + Life
27 June – 21 September 2025
The Photographers' Gallery, London W1F7LW