A photo exhibition titled "Wearable Herbie! ～Herbie, Anytime, Anywhere.," featuring the first-ever apparel line by photographer Herbie Yamaguchi, will be held at Galerie GEEK/ART in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. The exhibition runs from Saturday, September 13, 2025, to Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Herbie Yamaguchi is a photographer renowned for his monochrome snap portraits, often centered on the themes of "capturing human hope" and "photographing people falling in love." His gentle and clear style has captivated a large following.

This marks the first time he has ventured into apparel.

The T-shirt lineup features five designs, each incorporating photographs taken by Yamaguchi. Every item comes with an original tag bearing his handwritten signature.

Alongside the apparel, the exhibition will showcase archival works from Yamaguchi's travels around the globe. The collection spans moments of historical significance to quiet, everyday scenes, offering insight into the origins of his creative vision.

Concurrently, from September 9 (Tuesday) to September 21 (Sunday), JAM Photo Gallery will host a separate exhibition of Yamaguchi's works. This exhibition will present not only warm snapshots of daily life but also portraits of people captured amidst conflict, revolution, disaster, and pandemics.

Each piece reflects Yamaguchi's conviction to create photographs that "positively influence the human spirit," conveying a message of hope even in the face of adversity.

Noriko Yamaguchi of Galerie GEEK/ART commented, "We wanted to offer an experience where visitors can feel closer to Herbie Yamaguchi's photographic world, which delicately captures the pulse of the times and the stories of people, not just by 'seeing' but by 'wearing' his art."

Koji Shibata of Long Distance Love LLC., drawing on his experience producing three previous exhibitions for Yamaguchi, explained, "This time, we re-selected his representative works not for 'exhibition' but from the perspective of 'wearability.'" He noted that the five T-shirt designs were chosen from a selection of 17 potential pieces.

Shibata added, "The T-shirt brand 'Wearable Herbie' was born from the desire to allow people to wear their favorite Herbie works 'anytime, anywhere.'"

This novel exhibition allows visitors to experience Yamaguchi's world, captured through his warm gaze, not just by viewing but by wearing the art.

Herbie Yamaguchi
Born in 1950 in Tokyo. He discovered the joy of photography in his second year of junior high school when he joined the photography club. After graduating from university, he moved to London in 1973, where he spent ten years. While acting in a theater company, he encountered the punk rock and new wave movements. He shared a flat with a pre-fame Boy George, experiencing London during its most vibrant era, and his photographs from this period gained significant recognition. Upon returning to Japan, he continued to collaborate with domestic artists while consistently focusing his lens on ordinary people. In addition to exhibiting his work, he has written essays and served as a radio and television personality. He currently holds visiting professorships at Osaka University of Arts and Kyushu Sangyo University.
Judging experience: CAPA, Digital Camera Magazine, APA Awards, JPS, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, etc.
Selection committee member: Uyeno Hikoma Award
Awards: 2011 Photographer's Award, Photographic Society of Japan
Website:http://herbie-yamaguchi.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/herbieyamaguchi/