Eileen Polk

Photographs

Check out the Dig interview with Eileen Polk

Eileen Polk

Check out the Eileen Polk Memorabilia Collection

Eileen Polk was on the scene with her camera at the birth of Punk. Her intimate behind the scenes portraits of punk icons and early performance photographs have been published internationally.

She was born in New York City and was given her first photo assignment by Rock Scene Magazine editor Lenny Kaye in 1974. Eileen’s photographs and artwork were included in the first New York punk rock exhibit at the Nonson Gallery in SoHo in 1978 and one of her drawings from that show was featured on the cover of the Village Voice.

While Eileen was a student at Parsons School of Design she was also a musician, playing drums and managing The Blessed and performing onstage at the legendary nightclub Max’s Kansas City. She later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The New School for Social Research. Eileen’s writing has been published in many books and magazines, including cover stories for Punk Magazine and High Times.

Her outrageous stories were recorded by Legs McNeil in “Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk”. Eileen Polk has photographed icons of rock history including Frank Zappa, Nick Cave and Sid Vicious.

Her work has appeared in numerous magazines such as Andy Warhol’s Interview, Details, Premiere and People Magazine; as well as film and television histories of The Ramones, Sex Pistols, New York Dolls and other luminaries of punk history. Her photos have been exhibited at Art Basel in Miami Beach.

Eileen Polk

Photographs

Debbie Harry

Richard Hell

The Sex Pistols

Sting

The Ramones

Nick Cave

Eileen Polk Memorabilia