Photo Spencer Rowell, l’enfant (1987)

Since the creation of Canary Wharf, the arts have played an important role in the developing the 128-acre Estate. Canary Wharf has one of the UK’s largest collections of public art, with more than 70 permanent works by over 50 artists.

Photo Jillian Edelstein, Nelson Mandela (1997)

On the 16th of April, the estate will hold a major exhibition of photographic images, Canary Wharf celebrates 50 years of the Association of Photographers by hosting an exclusive exhibition, AOP50, a major retrospective comprising of iconic images by some of the world’s most well-known and respected photographers from the past 50 years.

Photo Alan Browning – The Pregnant Man

Formed in 1968 by a group of leading advertising and fashion photographers, AOP is today one of the most prestigious professional photographers’ associations in the world which has played a major role in promoting photographers’ rights and copyright protection.

Photo Zed Nelson, Mike and Baby Dallas, Texas (from the series Gun Nation)

In recognition of this important milestone, the exhibition, curated by leading photography expert Zelda Cheatle, will present a collection of images that define 50 years of the AOP. Photographs have been selected to illustrate the impact, diversity and quality of work by AOP members since 1968, including Nadav Kander, Duffy, Tim Flach, Tessa Traeger and John Claridge.

The exhibition covers a wide range of subjects from celebrities and stars to photographs documenting some of the world’s turning points, including wars, famine and humanitarian disasters. The exhibition will be separated into decades and grouped around Advertising, Editorial, Still Life, Portraiture, Fine Art and Landscape genres.

The exhibition will be free and held in the One Canada Square lobby in Canary Wharf.
If you are interested in photography and would like to see a number of images you may recognise and some you may not, it should be worth taking a look around the exhibition.