William Claxton

(American, 1927–2008)

William Claxton was an American photographer known for his images of the jazz scene as well as celebrities like Steve McQueen. Peggy Moffit, Claxton’s wife and muse to fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, served as a model for a particularly well-known photo in which she is wearing a topless swimsuit made by Gernreich. Born on October 12, 1927 in Pasadena, CA, Claxton began photographing up-and-coming jazz stars such as Chet Baker, while studying psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Over the decades that followed, Claxton’s work appeared in movie posters, fashion spreads, and magazines. He also went on to collaborate with Gernreich and wife for the film Basic Black in 1967, which is considered to be one of the first fashion films. The artist died on October 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA. Today, Claxton’s works are held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., among others.

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

William Claxton (175 results)
Steve McQueen and his wife Neile Adams..., 1964

William Claxton

Steve McQueen and his wife Neile Adams..., 1964

OstLicht. Gallery for Photography

900 EUR

Steve McQueen in His XK-SS Jaguar,..., 1962

William Claxton

Steve McQueen in His XK-SS Jaguar,..., 1962

Fahey/Klein Gallery

Price on Request

Steve McQueen Garage on Solar Drive, Los..., 1962

William Claxton

Steve McQueen Garage on Solar Drive, Los..., 1962

Fahey/Klein Gallery

Price on Request

John Coltrane at the Guggenheim, New York City, 1960

William Claxton

John Coltrane at the Guggenheim, New York City, 1960

Fahey/Klein Gallery

Price on Request

Chet’s Chops (Chet Baker), 1954

William Claxton

Chet’s Chops (Chet Baker), 1954

CLAMP

Price on Request

Steve McQueen, Los Angeles, 1962

William Claxton

Steve McQueen, Los Angeles, 1962

Fahey/Klein Gallery

Price on Request

Chet Baker (Piano), Hollywood, 1954

William Claxton

Chet Baker (Piano), Hollywood, 1954

Fahey/Klein Gallery

Price on Request

Fashion Photograph

William Claxton

Fashion Photograph

Sale Date: January 30, 2024

Auction Closed

Fashion Photograph

William Claxton

Fashion Photograph

Sale Date: January 30, 2024

Auction Closed

'Donald Byrd, New York City', 1959

William Claxton

'Donald Byrd, New York City', 1959

Sale Date: July 18, 2024

Auction Closed

'Dinah Washington, Los Angeles', 1959

William Claxton

'Dinah Washington, Los Angeles', 1959

Sale Date: July 18, 2024

Auction Closed

Chet Baker (Piano), Hollywood, 1954

William Claxton

Chet Baker (Piano), Hollywood, 1954

Sale Date: July 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Chet Baker, Dreaming, Hollywood, 1954

William Claxton

Chet Baker, Dreaming, Hollywood, 1954

Sale Date: July 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Shadow Of The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, 1953

William Claxton

Shadow Of The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, 1953

Sale Date: June 25, 2024

Auction Closed

Peggy Moffitt in Rudi Gernreich's “Little..., 1966

William Claxton

Peggy Moffitt in Rudi Gernreich's “Little..., 1966

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

Ray Charles, 1962

William Claxton

Ray Charles, 1962

Sale Date: February 27, 2024

Auction Closed

Peggy Moffitt with Lydia Field and Léon Bing , 1965

William Claxton

Peggy Moffitt with Lydia Field and Léon Bing , 1965

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

Marlene Dietrich, 1966

William Claxton

Marlene Dietrich, 1966

Sale Date: December 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Times Square, NYC, 1960

William Claxton

Times Square, NYC, 1960

Sale Date: November 28, 2023

Auction Closed

Charlie Parker and Chet Baker, 1953

William Claxton

Charlie Parker and Chet Baker, 1953

Sale Date: September 29, 2023

Auction Closed

Chet Baker and Teddy Charles, Pasadena, 1953, 1953

William Claxton

Chet Baker and Teddy Charles, Pasadena, 1953, 1953

Sale Date: May 25, 2023

Auction Closed

Bill Evans, Hollywood, 1962, 1962

William Claxton

Bill Evans, Hollywood, 1962, 1962

Sale Date: May 25, 2023

Auction Closed

Chet Baker (at the piano), Hollywood, 1954

William Claxton

Chet Baker (at the piano), Hollywood, 1954

Sale Date: May 19, 2023

Auction Closed

Peggy Moffitt V

William Claxton

Peggy Moffitt V

Sale Date: April 29, 2023

Auction Closed

English (US)

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