CAPTURING THE SURREAL: LEE MILLER EXHIBITION ‘Lee and LEE’ COMES TO BONHAMS IN JANUARY 2025
Courtesy of Bonhams, Farleys House & Gallery
London – Surrealist and fashion photographer, model and pioneering war correspondent, Lee Miller (1907-1977) was a force of nature who had an exceptional career. Yet, for a long time, it remained hidden – even from her son – with all of her negatives and photographs stored away in the attic at her home, Farleys in East Sussex. Since her powerful images came to light, her son Antony Penrose and granddaughter Ami Bouhassane have worked to ensure her legacy lives on. Last year the first narrative movie about her life during the war, LEE starring Kate Winslet, who was also one of the producers on the film, was released by Sky, with Winslet recently being nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.
Now Bonhams has collaborated with Farleys House & Galleries – Home of the Surrealists – to bring its exhibition ‘Lee and LEE’ to New Bond Street in January 2025. The exhibition, curated by Ami Bouhassane and producer of LEE Kate Solomon, pairs Lee Miller’s iconic war photographs with their counterparts from the 2024 feature film. The exhibition will run from 13-24 January (10am-4pm including weekends) at Bonhams New Bond Street, London.
Lee Miller wearing special helmet borrowed from U.S Army photographer Don Sykes (Sergeant), Normandy France 1944 By Unknown Photographer
‘Lee and LEE’ showcases comparative images of Lee Miller’s wartime reporting alongside photographs of meticulously researched scenes recreated for the film by official photographer for LEE, Kimberley French. The exhibition will also feature photographs by Kate Winslet taken on set using a Rolleiflex camera, built specially as a replica of Lee Miller’s own camera at Farleys. Having been on view in the Lee Miller Gallery at Farleys in Sussex over the summer, this is the first time the exhibition will travel to London, and it will also include props from the film and items owned by Lee Miller. These will include Lee’s own wartime uniform, as well as the uniform from the film and special stunt camera, costumes created by Michael O’Connor, a prop typewriter and WWII Land Rover, amongst other objects.
Artillery spotters with telephones in Hotel Ambassadeurs directing fire on Grand Bey and St Malo old town, St Malo, France 1944 By Lee Miller
India Phillips, Bonhams Managing Director, UK, added: “Bonhams is thrilled to bring this exhibition to New Bond Street. Lee Miller was such a pioneering figure with an incredible force of spirit and keen photographic eye. The film LEE has helped further solidify her legacy as not only a Surrealist icon, but also an exceptional war photographer, determined to show the world the truth of the conflict. We’re delighted to be partnering with Farleys to ensure her work continues to reach new audiences as well as her many admiring fans.”
Women accused of being Nazi collaborators, Rennes, France 1944 by Lee Miller
Antony Penrose, co-Director of Farleys House and Gallery and Lee Miller’s son, comments: “Other attempts to make a feature film about Lee had failed in the past, but this one succeeded mainly due to Kate Winslet’s vision and determination. It owes much of its force and integrity to being a film about a woman made by women.”
Expressing her admiration for Miller, Kate Winslet, in a foreword for the recent publication Lee Miller Photographs, commented: “There are so many stories of girls to whom things happened. Lee Miller was a woman who made things happen. I don’t mind admitting I adore her.” Additionally, when writing from the film set, Winslet added, “This photographer-writer-reporter did everything she did with love, lust, and courage, and is an inspiration for what you can achieve, and what you can bear, if you dare to take life firmly by the hands and live it at full throttle. Her legacy is extraordinary.”
Fire Masks, Downshire Hill, London, England 1941 by Lee Miller
LEE tells the story of American photographer and Surrealist icon Lee Miller (Winslet), and in particular the part she played during the Second World War. Determined to document the truth of the Nazi regime, and in spite of the odds stacked against female correspondents, Lee captured some of the most important images of World War II, but at an enormous personal price. Lee Miller’s incredible archive of images from this time remained undiscovered at Farleys until after her death.
About Farleys:
Tucked away in the Sussex countryside, Farleys conjures up an extraordinary atmosphere that testifies to its position as a meeting place for the key personalities in Twentieth Century Art. Today, Farleys House and Gallery is a house museum, sculpture garden and home to the Lee Miller Archives. Open from 3rd April – 31st October 2025, you can tour Lee and Roland’s home and enjoy our programme of exhibitions, workshops and events. www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk
About ‘LEE’:
Kate Winslet stars as pioneering American war correspondent and photographer, Lee Miller, and Sky launched the much-anticipated film in cinemas in the UK & Ireland September 13th.
Lee tells the story of Lee Miller (Winslet), American photographer. Determined to document the truth of the Nazi regime, and in spite of the odds stacked against female correspondents, Lee captured some of the most important images of World War II, but they came at an enormous personal price.
Joining Winslet is Andy Samberg playing Life Magazine photographer David E. Scherman; Alexander Skarsgård playing English Surrealist painter, photographer, poet and biographer Roland Penrose; Marion Cotillard playing Solange D’Ayen, the fashion director of French Vogue and close friend of Miller’s: Josh O’Connor playing Tony, a young journalist and Andrea Riseborough playing British Vogue Editor Audrey Withers.
Directed by Ellen Kuras. Produced by Kate Solomon and Kate Winslet, with Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Marie Savare and Lauren Hantz. Executive Producers are Julia Stuart and Laura Grange, Finola Dwyer, Thorsten Schumacher, Billy Mulligan, John Hantz, Jason Duan, Crystine Zhang, Lem Dobbs, Liz Hannah, John Collee and Clare Hardwick.
LEE is available to watch now on Sky and streaming service NOW
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In 2023, Bonhams achieved 14% growth with $1.14 billion in turnover. Recent important auctions and landmark single-owner collections, include the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Alain Delon: Sixty Years of Passion; Sir Roger Moore: The Personal Collection; Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included The Estate of Barbara Walters: American Icon; The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; The Crown Auction: Props and Costumes and The Claude de Marteau Collection.
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