Through Bruce Weber’s Lens: A Journey from ‘The Bad Boy of Opera’ to Prague’s Stone Bell House
Meeting Bruce Weber in 2012 was like stepping into a world where every frame came alive with meaning. He was directing The Bad Boy of Opera, a short film featuring my then-husband, Vittorio Grigolo, filmed on location at the Royal Opera House in London. Watching Bruce work in that iconic setting was mesmerizing—he has this incredible ability to capture the unseen, to bring out a side of people that feels almost mythical. I stood on the sidelines, captivated, as he filmed Vittorio in a way that highlighted his raw energy and intensity.
At one point, Bruce turned his attention to me, breaking the fourth wall of the set. “Why don’t you roll on the floor?” he suggested, grinning. I laughed, surprised, but couldn’t resist. Soon, he was snapping photos of me as I playfully rolled on the opera house floor, capturing that spontaneous moment. I never did get hold of those images, but the memory remains vivid—a small piece of my experience with one of the greatest visual storytellers of our time.
Recently, I had the chance to reconnect with Bruce’s work at his exhibition, My Education, at the Stone Bell House in Prague. This retrospective, spanning over five decades, displays more than 250 images, videos, and short films, offering a profound look into his artistic journey. From portraits of cultural icons like Nelson Mandela and Georgia O’Keeffe to personal, deeply intimate projects, his work highlights the beauty in authenticity and soulfulness.
A standout for me was his series with Heath Ledger, shot in the Czech Republic in 2000. Those images are timeless, capturing the essence of a young artist at his peak. Seeing Bruce’s work again was like revisiting the energy and spontaneity he brings to every frame—qualities that make his art unforgettable. This exhibition doesn’t just celebrate Bruce Weber’s career; it immerses you in his world, inviting you to see life through his lens, where every image tells a deeply human story.
