Les Paul Thru the Lens, an exclusive traveling gallery of photos highlighting the life and career of Les Paul, the inventor, musician, and icon, will open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio beginning Monday, July 15, 2024, through Monday, September 15, 2024. Guests of the Rock Hall will be treated to the exclusive photography exhibit featuring rare photos that chronicle the life of Les Paul. In addition, and for the first time ever, the Rock Hall will also exhibit three exclusive original portraits created by expressionist artist Leroy Neiman. These original art pieces have never been exhibited in a museum before. Les Paul Thru the Lens features Les’ celebrity friends, incredible moments in his life and career and some of the earliest part of his life. The limited engagement will be open to all guests of the Rock Hall.
The exhibit features 24 gallery-framed black-and-white photographs including Les’ life from a small child to his later career. It includes rare personal family photos, Les behind-the-scenes, famous friends, and photos of the man with a larger-than-life personality and amazing curiosity. Guests will be able to follow along while viewing each photograph with web-initiated storylines. From Les’ inventions born in his famous Hollywood garage studio to his popular reality TV show and appearances with Mary Ford, the exhibit provides fans with the opportunity to see Les like never before.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is located at 1100 East 9thStreet, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114. July and August hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursdays – Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) is a museum and hall of fame that celebrates the history of rock music and its impact on culture. The museum’s exhibits and collections include memorabilia, instruments, costumes and personal items from music’s greatest stars. The museum features interactive listening stations, short films, and informational areas about artists and bands. Founded in 1985, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also hosts several Inductee Ceremonies.
The exhibit will be held in the museum’s Roots Gallery and is included in the museum’s regular admission.
“1988 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Les Paul’s creativity and innovation cannot be overstated and are foundational to rock and roll as we know it today, said Rock & Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO, Greg Harris. “This carefully curated collection of photographs documents his incredible journey as a pioneer, mentor and friend to other artists, and we are grateful to the Les Paul Foundation for bringing this exhibit to Cleveland for fans to enjoy and are thrilled it will join our other featured exhibits celebrating the contributions of so many different types of artists in our Revolutionary Women In Music and Holla If Ya Hear Me exhibits.”
“Les was an icon whose inventions paved the way for musicians all over the globe. His curiosity gave us the most important inventions in the music industry which are still used today. That is why it feels so fitting that The Les Paul Foundation’s traveling exhibit, “Les Paul Thru the Lens” will exclusively exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from July to September. In 1988 Les was inducted into the Rock Hall and in 2008 The Rock Hall of Fame produced a star-studded Tribute to Les which would serve as the last one he would attend prior to his passing in 2009. We are thrilled to have this opportunity where guests of the Rock Hall will be able to experience Les’ life from early childhood to his career at all stages when they visit the exhibit. The rare photographs depict many important people and moments in Les’ life. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will also be the first venue to also exhibit three extraordinary original art pieces created by expressionist artist Leroy Neiman. The portraits by Neiman were done when he visited Les when he performed at The Iridium in New York many years ago. They have never been made public until now.. Les would be so happy to be back at the Rock Hall for this special engagement. We hope everyone who passes through the Hall’s doors gets to know and love Les Paul like we do.” – Michael Braunstein, Executive Director, the Les Paul Foundation
For more information and to buy tickets to Les Paul: Thru the Lens, please visit RockHall.com.
