The Darryn Lyons Collection

Darryn Lyons grew up in Leopold, Geelong. From an early age he fostered grand ambition to enter the world of photography & journalism. Encouraged by his art teacher, Mal Donnelly, Lyons received acclaim and prizes as a budding art student, fueling a lifelong obsession with making and owning beautiful works of art.

DARRYN LYONS POSING FOR A PHOTOSHOOT

At 22, Lyons was but a fledgling journalist from Geelong with an aspiration to make it big in London. He was in line for a sought-after job at News of the World, and happened to bump into media mogul Rupert Murdoch in the lobby. Emboldened by youth and self-confidence, the young photographer sparked a conversation with Murdoch about his hometown while waiting for a job interview. The official interview was not looking promising until a call came through on the staffer’s red phone; his chance meeting with Murdoch had left a lasting impression, landing him a job. It was the beginning of an illustrious career built on hard work, long hours and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Quickly adopting the nickname ‘Mr Paparazzi’, Lyons rose to infamy in the London tabloid scene and established many integral acquaintances with celebrities and royalty. English tabloids had an insatiable thirst for celebrity paparazzi photography, Lyons had the ride-or-die attitude required for the job. He later worked for the Daily Mail covering revolutions in Romania and Czechoslovakia and was in Sarajevo early in the Bosnian conflict, often facing life threatening situations. His coverage earned him the coveted awards Best News Photographer and Press Photographer of the Year, two highly respected accolades in the field of journalism and photography, and won numerous other awards around the world.

Lyons later founded the paparazzi agency Big Pictures in 1993, capitalising on the growing demand for candid celebrity content. “My ambition was clear – I always wanted to be a millionaire before I was thirty, and the drive to achieve that was a huge push.” His company was hugely successful, contracting photographers and licensing their images to newspapers and media outlets around the world for high prices.

LOT 26, FORMENTO + FORMENTO, HYSTERIA I, VANCOUVER 2015, $6,000-8,000

Alongside his professional achievements, Lyons fulfilled a personal milestone in his art collecting journey. On a trip to New York, Lyons wandered into a gallery and saw a suite of six Andy Warhol works. He had dreamed of owning one and (until then) hadn't felt it was within his reach. Enquiring about one of the pieces, the gallerist explained the suite must be purchased together. In a stroke of serendipity, Big Pictures had just sold an image for a large sum to multiple press outlets - it was a green light to purchase the Warhol suite that would launch Darryn's art collection into overdrive. The photographer shifted focus to collecting art with his inherently boisterous energy - enamoured with the idea of owning and collecting beautiful works of art to don the walls of his many residences.

LOT 2, TERRY O'NEILL (BRITISH, 1938-2019), RAQUEL WELCH ON THE CROSS, LOS ANGELES 1966-70, $8,000-12,000

From iconic images of movie stars to every facet of popular culture, Lyons’ collection is packed with colourful and titillating imagery, offering collectors a bouquet of glamour and spectacle boasting large-format commercial photographs from local and international artists.

The overall theme of this collection is playfulness, reflecting Lyons' larger-than-life personality, which is unapologetically loud and audacious in content and proportion. The collection dishes up a tantalising feast for the eye, which blends the line between fashion, celebrity and art. It includes the arresting images of fashion/art duo Formento + Formento and mega celebrities photographed by international photographers, such as Terry O'Neill's iconic crucifixion image featuring the Raquel Welch, to the iconic pop art stylings of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. The collection also offers an impressive array of wildlife photographs from the likes of James Lewin and the immersive imagery of wildlife photographer Harry Skeggs.

As a collector and gallerist, Lyons emphasises the importance of acquiring artworks that bring joy and happiness. While it is a welcome reward to find your collection appreciating in value – the true test of an artwork is how it makes you feel when you see it hanging on your wall. This is the dividend that matters most.

Lyons has achieved many milestones in his life: paparazzi and news photographer, mayor and gallerist. From encounters with celebrities on luxury yachts in the south of France to near-death experiences as Bosnian war correspondent, Lyons has a myriad of stories to tell.  He reflects and marvels on the incredible moments he has witnessed throughout his vast and varied career.  He is parting with these selected artworks in order to wind down and appreciate the simpler things in life.

Gravitating towards a more serene and luxurious lifestyle, much like a Slim Aarons photograph (a few of which feature in this sale), there will be plenty of poolside scenes and time to enjoy life's sweet nuances. He has accumulated immense depth and enjoyment from his art collection and is pleased to entrust these pieces to new collectors who will equally adore their vibrancy and splendour.

View the full catalogue.