Remembering Bunny Yeager

Bunny Yeager was a trailblazer. When Laura Henkel secured an exhibition to present Yeager’s photography at Sin City Gallery, it was a dream come true for her. Reflecting back on the summers of her youth in Miami, Henkel was aware of Yeager’s wild reputation. After all, a woman taking nude photographs of other women was somewhat unprecedented, if not immoral. As an adult and kindred spirit of the arts, Henkel held pure admiration for what Yeager had accomplished in her career. Her influence on pop culture was undeniable. She was a true modern provocateur.

Bunny’s Bombshells came to be when Henkel contacted the artist’s agent to inquire if an exhibition was possible at Sin City Gallery. She did not know if Yeager had retired from exhibiting her work or if there would be any interest to exhibit at the gallery. When her agent called back to say that she had agreed to the exhibition, Henkel’s joy reverberated throughout the universe. The opportunity to curate from Yeager’s massive portfolio and the ability to converse with the notorious photographer was nothing short of a major girl-crush moment for Henkel. Being an avid admirer of her illustrious photography, she understood the cultural relevance of the exhibition and the importance to curate an exceptional visual narrative for discerning audiences.

As Yeager had not exhibited in some time, Bunny’s Bombshells was set to be a major exhibition for the artist and it would be her first time to exhibit in Las Vegas. Henkel chose the dates of the exhibition to coincide with the Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHoF) Museum’s infamous Weekender, an event that attracted burlesque, midcentury modern, pinup and rockabilly aficionados from around the world. She contacted the museum to see if there might be interest to hold a special event for Yeager during their festivities. To Henkel’s delight, Yeager was invited to attend and receive a lifetime achievement award. Media outlets were informed of Yeager’s upcoming exhibition at the gallery, as well as her esteemed honor at BHoF. The stars were in alignment and Las Vegas was ready to welcome this pioneering icon with open arms. The anticipation for her arrival was unadulterated euphoria.

A week before the opening of Bunny’s Bombshells, Yeager died unexpectedly. Her passing was a shock to all. News outlets from around the world immediately wrote tributes of her life, work and influence. At the exhibit’s opening reception, the outpouring of love for her was outstanding. For Henkel and Yeager’s many fans, the exhibition was bittersweet. Not only did the exhibition serve as a demonstrative retrospect of her photography, it provided a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire rare works of art. Such works included photographs of her muse, Betty Page, Yeager’s own intimate self-portraits and other exquisite works featuring Lori Shea.

Yeager was honored posthumously at BHoF’s big event and her ardent devotees praised her life with renewed vigor. The proclamation of love for Bunny Yeager transcended the need to morn her passing. The events in Las Vegas were truly a celebration of life and her presence was felt everywhere. It was Henkel’s distinct privilege to curate and exhibit Yeager’s photography, as well as to facilitate a donation from the exhibition by her estate to the museum’s permanent collection. Bunny’s Bombshells originated with the intent to bestow limitless gratitude upon Yeager for being an incredible beacon of light for all women in the arts. Both the gallery and Henkel are thankful that her legacy will continue to shine bright for generations to come.

We recently rediscovered this lovely article by Geoff Carter for DTLV and are glad that we may share it with those who are familiar with her photography, as well as introduce her art to new audiences.

xx

“Bettie Page may have already been a well-known pinup and fetish model in the New York area when she met model-turned-photographer Linnea “Bunny” Yeager while vacationing in Miami, but by the time Yeager’s photo of Page wearing nothing but a Santa hat graced the pages of the nascent Playboy in January 1955, both women’s respective profiles were raised considerably. Page became an international sensation, and Yeager became one of the most in-demand photographers of the pinup era, not just because of her talent behind the camera, but also because as a woman herself, female models felt more comfortable being photographed nude by her.” > Read More