Biography
Stathis Orphanos was born in North Carolina of Greek parents and resides in Los Angeles and at his home on the Greek island of Samos. He is a photographer who specializes in portraits of major figures, whose work has been included in many publications. He is also a partner with Ralph Sylvester in a publishing firm, called Sylvester & Orphanos.
Biograpical Narrative
Stathis Orphanos was born in October 12, 1940 in Greensboro, North Carolina of Greek parents from the island of Samos; was raised in Connecticut and attended Cheshire Academy 1952-1958; attended Dennison University 1958-1959; attended CSULA 1960-1962, where he studied with Dorothy Parker, among others; attended UCLA summer 1960; met partner Ralph Sylvester in 1960; began bookselling with Sylvester and George Fisher in 1972; formed business as Sylvester & Orphanos and issued first catalog in 1973; began publishing limited editions as Sylvester & Orphanos in 1976 with Christopher Isherwood's Christopher and His Kind, a special edition of the publisher's sheets and in 1978 with Joyce Carol Oates's Sentimental education, printed by Lillian Marks; began photography at age 15 in 1955 with his first Rolleiflex; met friend Juli Veee (Gyula Visnyei) in 1972 and first traveled with him to photograph authors on the East Coast in 1981; first portfolio of photographs published in Ontario Review in 1983; various shows of photography and Sylvester & Orphanos publications, including Los Angeles Art Association Galleries 1988 (curated by Shirley Burden), exhibit at UCLA Library Department of Special Collections 1990 (curated by Dan Luckenbill), Beverly Hills Public Library 1995 (curated by Stefan Klima); author of fiction, including stories set in Greece; author of non fiction, e.g. memoirs of photographing sitters, including memoir of knowing and photographing Christopher Isherwood published in The Isherwood .
From the guide to the Stathis Orphanos Papers, ca. 1983-, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)
