Self portrait by Curtis Williams.
Few people can say they have lived and worked in seven different countries, and perhaps even fewer can cite the likes of international Vogue, Marie Claire, VIVA and Menswear as being accolades to their name. In fact, Curtis Williams, can say exactly just that. The international photographer who has lived and worked in Sweden, Germany, Italy, England, France and Spain, and to whom now resides back in his quaint, little apartment in West Hollywood, right in the heart of Los Angeles, a mere few streets away from the iconic Melrose Place (the very street to which this three year old publication derives its name from); has undoubtedly lived a life most could only spend their nine-to-five day jobs dreaming about.
Born one of nine children, and the son of an African American US Army Master Sargeant, Williams spent the earlier of his life in Europe. At seventeen, Williams’ landed an apprenticeship at a top production house, Peterson Productions, right in the heart of Hollywood, California. It was here, surrounded and inspired by likes of top Directors, Advertising Executives and Directors of Photography shooting some of the nation’s most headlining commercials that William’s thrived in this artistic environment. With the assistance of Richard Rucker, an employer of Peterson Productions, Williams’ went on to obtain a scholarship at the very prestigious Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, to which he graduated with honors, before going on to win a Junior Academy Award for his first short film, at just twenty-two years of age.
Born one of nine children, and the son of an African American US Army Master Sargeant, Williams spent the earlier of his life in Europe. At seventeen, Williams’ landed an apprenticeship at a top production house, Peterson Productions, right in the heart of Hollywood, California. It was here, surrounded and inspired by likes of top Directors, Advertising Executives and Directors of Photography shooting some of the nation’s most headlining commercials that William’s thrived in this artistic environment. With the assistance of Richard Rucker, an employer of Peterson Productions, Williams’ went on to obtain a scholarship at the very prestigious Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, to which he graduated with honors, before going on to win a Junior Academy Award for his first short film, at just twenty-two years of age.
In March 1976 VIVA Magazine quoted, “Twenty-seven year old Curtis Williams is very much an artist of our time: his camera is the latest in photographic technology and his subjects are modern, liberated women. Yet, the special effects Williams perfected after over a year of experimentation with film and darkroom techniques invite comparison with the oil paintings of the very greatest seventeeth-century masters”.
If his over-flowing list of achievements hasn’t already left you salivating, Curtis is also an experienced Advertising Photographer, Film Producer and Director. However, Williams admits, his true passions lie in design and photography, the latter being a field to which he has very modestly accumulated more than twenty-five years of experience.
As a professional, Williams’ was one of the most sought after and head-lining Photographers between New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, listing advertising agencies such as Young and Rublicam, Grey, Foote, Cone & Belding to his name. He spent in excess of twenty years in Europe, working in Sweden, Germany, Italy, England, France and Spain, and after a multitude of exhibits around the world and working for a plethora of prestigious clients including Wilhelmina Cooper, founder of the very prestigious Wilhemina Modeling agency; Mr. Williams decided to combine sales, marketing and creativity into the one house.
Today, the self-confessed Lakers enthusiast who can often be seen dining at The Little Next Door on Third Street- a French restaurant Williams tells me is most reminiscent of it's Parisian-residing counterparts, which, is also, coincidentally, the very same place to where I first shared the delight of meeting Mr Williams (over baguettes to be precise). This modest, exceptionally kind and rather unassuming man currently stands as Publisher, Executive Editor, Art Director and Photography of the exciting and culturally diverse, bi-monthly publication that is Melrose Heights. Curtis’ commitment to bringing depth, passion and inspirational individuals to its pages, renders this two-dimensional publication up to a three-dimensional level. Stocked at the Los Angeles International Airport, and news-stands around Los Angeles, Melrose Heights Magazine is currently in transit, in preparation to be launched internationally within the next year. With the Melrose Heights TV Channel up and running, and with a rapidly growing number of high-profiled celebrities flocking to become part of the magazine, Melrose Heights Magazine is fast becoming one of the most influential, and talked about publications in this city.
