See Tony Notarberardino’s Chelsea Hotel Portraits in New York

From ‘Tony Notarberardino: Chelsea Hotel Portraits, 1994-2010’ exhibition, black and white portrait of performer in jewelled costume smoking, and photo of hotel sign

Left, Tony Notarberardino, ‘Bonnie’, 2006, and right, Chelsea Hotel, 2004

(Image credit: © Tony Notarberardino. Courtesy the artist and ACA Galleries, New York)

published 5 April 2024

In the 1990s, New York hotel, The Chelsea, was a hub of bonhomie and bohemianism. An eclectic crowd gathered there, drawn both to the artistic environment it cultivated and for its reputation for setting in motion creative collaborations and avant-garde performances.

For photographer Tony Notarberardino, the hotel was a refuge when he arrived in New York City in 1994. Brought up in Melbourne, Australia, by Italian emigrant parents, Notarberardino – who still lives in the same apartment at The Chelsea Hotel today – was fascinated by the clientele. ‘As a photographer, I found the people who congregated at the hotel – and the hotel itself – to be so inspiring and visually striking,’ he says. ‘It was this magical, commingling of people from all walks of life that made life at the hotel so continuously compelling. It became and continues to be my home.’

Tony Notarberardino’s Chelsea Hotel Portraits

black and white portrait of singer Debbie Harry, posing against wall — Tony Notarberardino, *Debbie Harry*, 2005

The move marked the beginning of a series of portraits. ‘At 4am one night in September 1997, I was inside the Chelsea Hotel elevator, returning home, when a hand adorned with long, painted fingernails blocked it from closing. In walked an aged drag queen carrying more shopping bags than she could manage while holding the hand of a six-year-old boy. After four years of letting these moments pass by, I introduced myself and asked if I could photograph her. Without hesitation, she agreed.’

The resulting, large black and white photographs are the subject of a current exhibition at New York’s ACA Galleries. Notarberardino, who has photographed more than 1,500 subjects, continues to capture portraits daily in his hallway, using his vintage 1960s Toyo-View 810GII camera.

black and white portrait of Stanley Bard holding coffee and briefcase — Tony Notarberardino, *Stanley Bard*, 2008. Bard was co-owner and manager of the Chelsea Hotel for more than four decades

‘When I first started the series, I was photographing everyone: from the hotel cleaning staff, El Quijote [restaurant] staff waiters, to celebrities. I wasn’t exactly looking – I was more reacting to the circumstances I was in. There is no one formula that led me to photograph people, but it had to do with their style, uniqueness, and something that just drew my attention. These photographs document a piece of New York counterculture history that has been incredibly important to many artists, musicians, and other creatives.’

'Tony Notarberardino: Chelsea Hotel Portraits, 1994–2010' until 27 April 2024 at
ACA Galleries in New York.

Find more of the best New York art exhibitions to see now.

black and white portrait of Dee Dee Ramone with bare tattooed chest — Tony Notarberardino, *Dee Dee Ramone*, 1998, of punk band the Ramones

Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat art trends and conducted in-depth profiles, as well as writing and commissioning extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys travelling, visiting artists' studios and viewing exhibitions around the world, and has interviewed artists and designers including Maggi Hambling, William Kentridge, Jonathan Anderson, Chantal Joffe, Lubaina Himid, Tilda Swinton and Mickalene Thomas.