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Finding Aid to the Sunny Bak Photography Collection
Coll2013.037
Coll2013.037
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Table of contents
Title: Sunny Bak photography collection
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013.037
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.1 linear feet.
1 archives carton + 1 archives flat box + 4 posters.
Date (inclusive): 1993-2002
Abstract: The collection includes Bak's medium format color transparenices/unmounted slides of Ashley Herrin and Catherine Angiel and
alternative layouts for the June 21, 1993,
Newsweek cover story, "Lesbians Come Out Strong." The collection also contains Bak's images of lesbian women and couples on 10% Productions
and G Gallery greeting cards, postcards and posters. Bak photographed hundreds of entertainers including members of 10,000
Maniacs, Madonna, and Philippe Saisse. She may be most well-known for her work on the Beastie Boys album,
Licensed to Ill.
creator:
Bak, Sunny
Sunny Bak was born in Manhattan. She was a photographer for her junior high school newspaper in Queens, New York. She shot
the cast of Broadway shows for the paper. She went on to study at The School Visual Arts Nikon House and at The New School
for Social Research under Philippe Halsman.
In 1976, while still in high school she opened her first studio in Manhattan. During this time Bak photographed hundreds of
entertainers including members of 10,000 Maniacs, Madonna, and Philippe Saisse. She may be most well-known from this period
for her work on the Beastie Boys album,
Licensed to Ill.
From 1986 to 1991, she had studios in New York and Los Angeles during this time she also photographed fashion in London, England.
In 1992 she relocated to Venice Beach, California.
Bak’s works have appeared in
British Elle,
Cosmopolitan,
Details,
Hampton’s Newspaper magazine,
Time Magazine,
Woman’s World and one of the bestselling issues of
Newsweek. Her portrait photography includes images of Carol Alt, Danzig, Seth Green, Gregory Peck, Jason Priestly, Keanu Reeves, Slayer
and the Village People.
The collection includes Bak's medium format color transparenices/unmounted slides of Ashley Herrin and Catherine Angiel and
alternative layouts for the June 21, 1993,
Newsweek cover story, "Lesbians Come Out Strong.". The collection also contains Bak's images of lesbian women and couples on 10% Productions
and G Gallery greeting cards, postcards and posters.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Gift of Sunny Bak, October 1, 2012.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Sunny Bak Photography Collection, Coll2013-037, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Collection processed by Katrina Sire, May 2013.
Removed to the ONE greeting card collection:
10% Productions - 11404-200, 12216-200, 13601-200,13209-200, 13206-200, 13306-200, 14103-200, 14204-200, 15402-200, 17106-200,
17210-200, 17211-200, 17406-200, 17502-200, 17305-200, 17701-200, 18403-200, x205-200, x206-200, 29885-225, 27104035
Gallery Collection - 53196-200
Simply Love by 10% Productions - 33231
Visions by 10% Productions - 25660-200
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lesbians--California--Los Angeles
Mass media and gays--United States
Photographs