Between December of 1963 and February of 1964, The Beatles were catapulted from British sensation to global superstars. In stadiums, streets, and on The Ed Sullivan Show, their arrival in North America marked a major cultural shift. Greeted by screaming fans and press at every turn, Paul McCartney stood in the eyes of the storm and his photographs offer a unique perspective on what it was like to be a Beatle at the start of Beatlemania.
Organized by the National Portrait Gallery in London, from Paul McCartney’s personal archive, comes more than 250 photographs of this incredible moment in time. A behind-the-scenes look at the meteoric rise of one of the world’s most celebrated bands, these images reveal Paul McCartney as a multifaceted artist.
These intimate and historic photographs, shown alongside video clips and archival materials, capture both the intensity of The Beatles touring schedule and the energy of the era, as well more intimate views of his bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm has been organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, England, in collaboration with Paul McCartney. It is curated by Sir Paul McCartney with Sarah Brown for MPL Communications and Rosie Broadley for the National Portrait Gallery. The presentation at the Art Gallery of Ontario is organized by Jim Shedden, Curator, Special Projects & Director, Publishing.
Signature Partner
Contributing Sponsor
Generous Support
Accessible large-print formats of selected texts for each exhibition content area are available in English and French.
Download large print in English (PDF 700 KB) Download large print in French (PDF 320 KB)
Experience Beatlemania through Paul McCartney's intimate photographs, accompanied by his own narration with our free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects.
Unlock more ways to explore the AGO with access to audio, video, and behind-the-scenes content. Available in 40 languages, navigate using our interactive map, dive into current exhibitions, and enjoy our highlights audio tour.
