Iconic New York City Street Photographer & Photojournalist

1947–2018 | A preeminent figure in the New York City street photography scene of the 1970s and 1980s, his work is characterized by a "stream of consciousness" style often compared to Robert Frank and Garry Winogrand.

His photographs are held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Brooklyn Museum, capturing the raw energy of urban life from the streets of Manhattan to the legendary Empire Roller Disco.

Biography

Becoming passionate about photography while earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1972 from Columbia College in Chicago, he developed an approach to the medium described as a “stream of consciousness,” most often compared to 20th-century greats such as Robert Frank and Garry Winogrand. He strived to capture the essence of a moment, yet wanted to leave the viewer with the impression that the moment was a part of a larger story.

Beyond the street, he maintained a successful tenure as a freelance photojournalist. His commercial work brought him to the sets of “The Late Show with David Letterman,”“CBS News,” and “60 Minutes.” He was frequently contracted to photograph national events, including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions from 1988 through 2000.

A career milestone occurred in 1996, when he accompanied Dan Rather and CBS News to Cuba to photograph “CBS Reports: The Last Revolutionary,” gaining unprecedented access to Fidel Castro.

Published Works & Artistic Legacy

His passion for capturing the human condition is preserved in two published books:

• Shot on the Street (2002): Features 60 color photographs of New York City. Pagnano noted: “The street’s influence and energy never ceases. It is not only felt outside, but permeates the interiors of its structures and minds of its inhabitants.”

• Empire Roller Disco (Anthology Editions, 2023): Features photographs from a single night inside the famed Brooklyn roller dome. F-Stop Magazine wrote: “Pagnano struck gold with his ability to cross generations and timelessly bridge cultural divides... we are there and can feel the pulse of the music.”

His photographs have been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, the New York Public Library, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Selections from his Empire Roller Discoseries currently grace the United States Embassy in Poland as part of the “Art in Embassies” program. In 2023, his commercial archive was donated to the permanent collection at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas.

Patrick D. Pagnano passed away on October 7, 2018, from complications from a heart procedure. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kari Pagnano.

As a Legacy Collection, this body of work is presented as an expanded sequence to reflect the narrative depth and market significance of NYC 1970s (Black & White and Color) and Empire Roller Disco. Curated by The MF Gallery from the archives of Patrick D. Pagnano, all works are available for acquisition.