Adriana Lima Hosts Russell James Exhibition in Aspen

Celebrated Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima was in Aspen over the weekend to host the opening of the new Russell James photographic exhibition "A Short-Lived Tyranny" at the 212 Gallery in Aspen.

Celebrating the exhibition in Aspen were: Adriana Lima, Russell James, Victoria's Secret model Lindsay Ellingson, President and Chief Marketing Officer, Brand and Creative Services for Limited Brands Ed Razek, Elle Macpherson, Greg Renker, Modern Luxury/Aspen Magazine editor Janet O'Grady, 212 Gallery owner Katie Kiernan, PepsiCo's Kristin Patrick and Mauro Porcini, acclaimed artist Caio Fonseca, and a host of local and international art collectors.

Aspen, home to the Aspen Institute, the Goethe Bicentennial and the historic First Photographic Conference, has long been an international art mecca, particularly known for its association with modern art and photography.

The new solo exhibition by James, whose images of the world's most beautiful women have graced countless magazine covers and made him one of the fashion industry's most sought-after photographers, has been culled from various shoots, commercial assignments in exotic locations, during which James stole moments with his subjects to capture their beauty in isolation. The resulting images are as poetic in their intimacy as they are powerful in their seduction. From classical nudes to back-stage candids, James' photographs recall the elegance of Irving Penn and the strength of Helmut Newton, but with an air of playfulness that is very much his own.

"Although Socrates described beauty as a 'short-lived tyranny'," said 212 Gallery owner and exhibition curator Katie Kiernan, "James' pictures eternalize the beauty of our time, a reflection of our own desires, dreams and joy."

Lima, ranked by Forbes and a plethora of publications as one of the most successful supermodels in the world, is prominently featured in the exhibition, alongside images of Lindsay Ellingson, Gisele Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, Karlie Kloss, Rosie Huntington, Erin Heatherton and more.

"A Short-Lived Tyranny" will be on exhibition through September 15, 2013 at 212 Gallery, 525 Cooper St., Aspen CO 81611. Open Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm, free to the public.

A native of Perth, Australia, Russell James' childhood and early adult years were far removed from the glamour one associates with the world of high fashion. The son of a remote areas Western Australian policeman, James worked his way up in the world of photography via his unique focus and unconventional take on "beauty". His works have appeared in leading publications such as Vogue, W, American and French Photo, Sports Illustrated, and have been published in ten fine art anthologies and two monographs, including 'Russell James' (2009, teNeues Publications). In August 2007, Russell was awarded the prestigious Hasselblad Masters Award.

A recently appointed member of the Clinton Global Initiative, James also utilizes his photography for social good through his critically acclaimed Nomad Two Worlds fine art project.

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