Denis O'Regan's initial exhibition as the first ever Artist In Residence to the Royal Albert Hall is a collaboration with musical artist Nitin Sawhney as part of his 'Journeys: 150 Years of Immigration'. Nitin Sawhney is one of the most distinctive and versatile musical voices, achieving an international reputation across every creative medium.
In 2017 Nitin received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award, and is firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer. Most recently, Nitin has been appointed Chair of Trustees for PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development. Sawhney also holds 7 honorary doctorates.
The ‘Journeys' portrait series is an uplifting and celebratory collaboration with artists, staff and friends of the Royal Albert Hall, showcasing each of their uniquely personal perspectives on what the world ‘immigrant’ means to them. The subjects were photographed in and around the Royal Albert Hall over the period of a few hours, choosing their own clothing and make-up. The exhibition of portraits is on view from October 21st to November 7th.
Denis O’Regan was born in London to parents who had eloped from County Cork in Ireland and married in Brixton. Ten years later Denis saw The Beatles at London's Hammersmith Odeon, followed a decade later by David Bowie performing Ziggy Stardust at the same venue. Fast forward another ten years and Denis had toured the world as official photographer to Thin Lizzy, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie.
In 2021 Denis was appointed the first ever Artist In Residence to the Royal Albert Hall in its 150th anniversary year.