Will McBride

(American, 1931–2015)

Will McBride was an American artist known for his black-and-white photographs documenting youth culture in postwar Germany. His work remains controversial for its frank and explicit depiction of sexuality, as evidenced in his Show Me! (1974) and Coming Of Age (1999) photobooks which were intended to educate children and adolescents about their developing bodies. Born on January 10, 1931 in St. Louis, MO, McBride studied privately with Norman Rockwell while attending the University of Vermont, before transferring to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and finishing his degree at Syracuse University in 1953. Serving in the Army brought him to Germany in the mid-1950s, after his tour of duty he settled in Berlin where he became fascinated with documenting the rapid rebuilding of West Germany and its effect on youth culture. Many consider McBride’s working method as a forerunner to the visceral self-documentation seen later in the photographs of Nan Goldin and Wolfgang Tillmans. Toward the end of his life, McBride switched his focus towards producing painting and sculpture. He died on January 29, 2015 in Berlin, Germany at the age of 84. Today, the artist’s work are held in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Related Categories

Contemporary Art, Contemporary Realism, Photography

Related Artists

Robert Mapplethorpe, Irving Penn, Norman Rockwell, Garry Winogrand

Will McBride Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Will McBride (742 results)
Michael and Cathy in les Baux bei Arles, 1975–1975

Will McBride

Michael and Cathy in les Baux bei Arles, 1975–1975

Sale Date: November 14, 2000

Auction Closed

Barbara und Will, München, 1963–1963

Will McBride

Barbara und Will, München, 1963–1963

Sale Date: May 25, 2000

Auction Closed

Hair-Darsteller in Pappkartons, München, 1968–1968

Will McBride

Hair-Darsteller in Pappkartons, München, 1968–1968

Sale Date: May 25, 2000

Auction Closed

David Heinemann, 1968–1968

Will McBride

David Heinemann, 1968–1968

Sale Date: June 4, 1999

Auction Closed

Müde Betrunkene, Vatertag, 1957–1957

Will McBride

Müde Betrunkene, Vatertag, 1957–1957

Sale Date: April 24, 1999

Auction Closed

Barbara im Bett, 1959–1959

Will McBride

Barbara im Bett, 1959–1959

Sale Date: April 24, 1999

Auction Closed

London, 1960–1969

Will McBride

London, 1960–1969

Sale Date: April 24, 1999

Auction Closed

Jungs im Hinterhof, 1959–1959

Will McBride

Jungs im Hinterhof, 1959–1959

Sale Date: November 7, 1998

Auction Closed

Junge wärmt sich auf, 1957–1957

Will McBride

Junge wärmt sich auf, 1957–1957

Sale Date: November 7, 1998

Auction Closed

Studie, 1967–1968

Will McBride

Studie, 1967–1968

Sale Date: November 7, 1998

Auction Closed

Michael and Cathy, Les Beaux bei Arles, 1975–1975

Will McBride

Michael and Cathy, Les Beaux bei Arles, 1975–1975

Sale Date: November 8, 1997

Auction Closed

Am Fenster, Salem, 1963–1963

Will McBride

Am Fenster, Salem, 1963–1963

Sale Date: November 8, 1997

Auction Closed

Das Haus ist voll, 1970–1970

Will McBride

Das Haus ist voll, 1970–1970

Sale Date: November 8, 1997

Auction Closed

Barbara McBride schwanger mit Shawn, Berlin, 1960

Will McBride

Barbara McBride schwanger mit Shawn, Berlin, 1960

Sale Date: May 1, 1997

Auction Closed

John F. Kennedy am Kölner Dom, 1963

Will McBride

John F. Kennedy am Kölner Dom, 1963

Sale Date: May 1, 1997

Auction Closed

Kinoposter auf dem Kudamm Eche Bleibtreu strasse

Will McBride

Kinoposter auf dem Kudamm Eche Bleibtreu strasse

Sale Date: May 1, 1997

Auction Closed

Anna Marie und Christ waren gute Freunde, und so

Will McBride

Anna Marie und Christ waren gute Freunde, und so

Sale Date: November 28, 1996

Auction Closed

Victor und Tana, 1963

Will McBride

Victor und Tana, 1963

Sale Date: November 9, 1996

Auction Closed

Leo Castelli in Arles zur Ausstellung von..., 1993

Will McBride

Leo Castelli in Arles zur Ausstellung von..., 1993

Sale Date: November 9, 1996

Auction Closed

Roland am Strand von Viareggio, 1976

Will McBride

Roland am Strand von Viareggio, 1976

Sale Date: November 9, 1996

Auction Closed

Objekt, Art Frankfurt, 1992

Will McBride

Objekt, Art Frankfurt, 1992

Sale Date: November 9, 1996

Auction Closed

FLORENCE , 1957–1989

Will McBride

FLORENCE , 1957–1989

Sale Date: May 7, 1992

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.