Can you feel the love tonight? Elton John’s cosy family portrait captured by Catherine Opie

Posted on By october

October Gallery Museum
Connecting People with Art since 1985
Catherine Opie’s Elijah, David, Elton and Zachary (2025) © Catherine Opie; courtesy of the artist, Regen Projects, Los Angeles and Thomas Dane Gallery
The Rocket Man—aka the legendary musician Elton John—has been captured in all his (domestic) glory by Catherine Opie ahead of a major retrospective dedicated to the LGBTQ+ trailblazing photographer opening this week at the National Portrait Gallery in London (Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, 5 March-31 May). In the new portrait, on show in Room 30 (Mary Weston Gallery), the Private Dancer singer is shown at home with his husband David Furnish and his sons Zachary Furnish-John and Elijah Furnish-John. 
“Through this family portrait Opie celebrates queer and celebrity lives within the visual language of domesticity and belonging,” the gallery says. Opie chose to photograph the Furnish-John family with their pet Labradors Joseph and Jacob at their family home in Old Windsor. Opie says: “I arrived at Elton and David’s house three days before Christmas. I met the boys and the dogs and after a great lunch together I made this family portrait of them in their library. It is truly an honour to photograph Elton, David, Zachary, and Elijah. For me it represents the humanity of what family can be.” The commission is supported by the art foundation iArtis.
The new portrait will go on show in a Covid-delayed exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London
A sneak peek into the mammoth photo collection of Elton John and David Furnish
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The October Gallery Museum places art in the community. Here are partner locations where you can have an art experience.
Some locations art is installed inside buildings and visits are during regular business hours. Other locations are by appointment only. Schools are not open to the public. In addition, we have many outdoor installations that you can enjoy around the clock. Check each location below for details. Tours are available upon request. 215-352-3114.
Here are some of our patrons that have donated art and art related items installed as part of our Art in the Community program. Thanks!
Watson and Sonia Brown
Stephanie Daniel
Chad Cortez Everett
Gail Gaines
Dr. Darryl J. Ford
Kelly R. Harrison
Deborah Kelly
Betty Ann D. Lawrence
David Lawrence
Leon McDuffie
Michael Muhammad
Jay R. Ogilvie
Marjorie H. Ogilvie
Junious Rhone, Sr.
Robin Rhone
Shirley Rhone
April Rice
Karen Roach
Monica Rocha
Steve Satell
Deborah Stephens
Staci Watson 
Stephanie R. West
Horace Wright

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Art and art related items may be returned to October Gallery in good condition within twenty (20) days of the purchase for store credit ONLY – unless otherwise stated on an invoice.
Items on layaway or even items paid for will be held by the gallery for no more than ninety (90) days from the original sale date. Refund is in store credit ONLY – unless other stated on an invoice.

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October Gallery