The wild life of Peter Beard RIP
Whomever has the rights to make a documentary on the life and times of Peter Beard is going to have a great time. Photographer, journal keeper and artist, writer - Beard was as much known for his social life as his work, which is a pity, as he was visionary in his view of Africa. His story is almost too good to be true. He was from true blue capitalist American blood, his great grandfather ran the railways, one of the leaders of the industrial revolution, a bit of tobacco fortune in the mix. His privilege came with a rather large dose of good looks and a physique that was known to be able to withstand days of partying and abuse. And then some talent too.
At 17, Beard visited Africa for the first time and his love affair started with the continent, which seduced his camera and pen. By 1961, he was a neighbour and friend of Karen Blixen who wrote “Out of Africa”. Dali was a close friend, as was this list : Jackie O, Mick Jagger, Truman Capote, Warhol and Francis Bacon. He photographed Bacon,Bacon painted him. And the women……there were plenty, right to the end. He was married to Cheryl Tiegs and dated Jackie’s sister,Lee Radziwell, amongst others. Beard also “found” Iman.
In a bizarre twist to this story, Beard disappeared just as Covid-19 hit the world, and his body only found on the 19th of April. He had dementia and had wondered off into the woods. Strange end to an era of parties and celebrity weekends from Kenja to Studio 54, just as this virus came and changed it all.
Good reads on his life:
