John Benton-Harris

John Benton-Harris (September 28, 1939 – August 26, 2023) was an American photographer and educator who lived and worked in the United Kingdom.

Life and work
John Benton-Harris was born in The Bronx, New York City on September 28, 1939. He worked as an industrial photographer with the Sinclair Oil Corporation for a period from 1961. He then completed mandatory military service as a photographer with the United States Army, in Italy. Afterwards he travelled in Europe, then in 1965 settled in London, working as a staff photographer for London Life magazine. He subsequently worked as a photojournalist for various newspapers and magazines.

In 1987/88 Benton-Harris was appointed adjunct Professor of Photography at the University of Michigan's School of Art.

Benton-Harris died on August 26, 2023, at the age of 83. He never retired, and was working on taking pictures and book projects until shortly before his death.

Zines by Benton-Harris

 * The English. Southport: Café Royal, 2018. Edition of 250 copies.
 * Saint Patrick's People. Southport: Café Royal, 2019. Edition of 250 copies.
 * Children of the Troubles: Northern Ireland. Southport: Café Royal, 2020. Edition of 250 copies.
 * Walking New York 1961–1981. Southport: Café Royal, 2020. Edition of 250 copies.
 * Walking London 1965–1988. Southport: Café Royal, 2021.

Books edited with others

 * Through the Looking Glass: Photographic art in Britain 1945–1989. London: Barbican Art Gallery, 1989. Coedited by Benton-Harris and Gerry Badger. ISBN 0-85331-560-4.

Solo exhibitions

 * A Walk in New York, Impressions Gallery, York, UK, 1973
 * England, St Patrick's Day, Streets of NYC, The Photographers' Gallery, London, 1981/82

Group exhibitions

 * Summer Show 6: Old masters were young once, Serpentine Galleries, London, 1971. Benton-Harris' work was shown on its own in the Print room.
 * Two Views: Photographs of British Towns as Seen by Eight Photographers, The Photographers' Gallery, London, 1973. With work by Benton-Harris, Ian Berry, Colin Curwood, Chris Killip, Josef Koudelka, Ron McCormick, and Christine Pearcey.
 * The Portrait Season, Impressions Gallery, York, UK, 1985. With work by Benton-Harris, Clive Landen, and Philip Sayer.

Exhibitions co-curated by Benton-Harris

 * American Images: Photography 1945 to 1980, Barbican Art Gallery, London, 1985 and touring
 * Through the Looking Glass: Photographic Art in Britain 1945–1989, Barbican Art Gallery, London, 1989; Manchester City Art Gallery, 1989/90

Collections
Benton-Harris' work is held in the following permanent collections:
 * Arts Council Collection, UK: 80 prints (as of September 28, 2021)
 * Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York: 1 print (as of September 28, 2021)
 * Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Illinois: 2 prints (as of September 28, 2021)
 * National Portrait Gallery, London: 9 prints (as of September 28, 2021)