Exhibition Label

As a singer-songwriter, director, composer, and impresario of world music, David Byrne has been described as the "thinking man’s rock star." A shy art student, he attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where he teamed up with his friends Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth to create the thoughtful, danceable industrial rock of the Talking Heads. Collaborating with Brian Eno, Byrne led the band’s evolution from venues like CBGB into studio-driven world music—first with Remain in Light (1980)—while also composing scores for Twyla Tharp, Robert Wilson, and Jonathan Demme. As Talking Heads concerts evolved into theatrical funk spectacles, Byrne became a nerd fashion icon in his oversize white suit, as captured in Stop Making Sense (1985). Byrne founded the world music record label Luaka Bop, and has more recently favored Latin American rhythms in his own compositions.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Restrictions & Rights

© 1981, Marcia Resnick

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

1981

Object number

NPG.2011.106

Artist

Marcia Resnick, born 1950

Sitter

David Byrne, born 14 May 1952

Topic

Costume\Headgear\Hat

Costume\Dress Accessory\Tie\Necktie

David Byrne: Male

David Byrne: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer

David Byrne: Performing Arts\Director

David Byrne: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer

David Byrne: Humanities and Social Sciences\Musicologist

David Byrne: Oscar

Portrait

Place

United States\New York\Kings\New York

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image: 21.8 x 32.5 cm (8 9/16 x 12 13/16")

Sheet: 40.4 x 50.4 cm (15 7/8 x 19 13/16")

Mat: 40.6 x 55.9 cm (16 x 22")

National Portrait Gallery

Type

Photograph