DAVID ARMSTRONG

b. 1954, United States

David Armstrong Biography

David Armstrong was born in Arlington, Massachusetts. He attended the Boston Museum School and Cooper Union, and he earned a B.F.A from Tufts University in 1988.
Armstrong first received critical attention for his intimate portraits of men, either lovers or friends, in sharp focus. In the nineties, he began to photograph cityscapes and landscapes in soft focus to contrast with the resolution of his portraits. Street lights, electric signs and cars are reduced to a sensual mottled blur, complementing the vividness and tactility of his portraits.

His photographs have been included in numerous group exhibitions including the 1995 Whitney Biennial and Emotions and Relations at the Hamburger Kunsthalle. David’s work has appeared in French Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, Arena Homme+, GQ,Self Service, Another Man and Japanese Vogue among others. He has realized advertising campaigns for a variety of clients, including Zegna, Rene Lezard, Kenneth Cole, Burburry, Puma, and Barbara Bui.

David Armstrong Pricing / Available Works

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Contemporary art exhibition David Armstrong David Armstrong at Kunsthalle Zurich Zurich Switzerland

David Armstrong Kunsthalle Zürich 8 June–15 September 2024
Zurich

Representative Artworks

David Armstrong: Portraits. Installation view, March 10–May 23, 2026,Artists Space. Photo: CarterSeddon. Image Courtesy Artists Space, New York.

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David Armstrong, Ethan, Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, 2009, pigment print © David Armstrong. Courtesy of the Estate of David Armstrong.
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David Armstrong, Eddie, Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, 2001, gelatin silver print© David Armstrong. Courtesy of the Estate of David Armstrong.
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David Armstrong, Hotel Grand Tozi, Marrakesh, 2001, Cibachrome. © David Armstrong. Courtesy of the Estate of David Armstrong.
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David Armstrong, Blue Urn, Schönbrunn, Vienna, 1998, Cibachrome. © David Armstrong. Courtesy of the Estate of David Armstrong.
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Installation view: David Armstrong: Portraits (March 10–May 23) (2026). Artists Space, NYC. Image Courtesy, Artists Space. Photo: Carter Seddon.
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David Armstrong, Charlottenburg, Berlin, 2000, Cibachrome © David Armstrong. Courtesy of the Estate of David Armstrong.
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Installation view: David Armstrong: Portraits (March 10–May 23) (2026). Artists Space, NYC. Image Courtesy, Artists Space. Photo: Carter Seddon.
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David Armstrong in Ocula Magazine

Spotlight / Now and Then The Imperfect Cadence of David Armstrong Jackson Davidow David Armstrong’s wilfully out‑of‑focus still life images and formal portraits were his way of connecting with the world, spanning his lifelong friendship with Nan Goldin and a later foray into fashion editorial.

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