(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- The Les Paul Foundation, whose mission includes honoring and sharing the life, spirit and legacy of Les Paul presents “Les Paul Thru the Lens,” an exclusive traveling gallery of photos highlighting the life and career of Les Paul, the inventor, musician and icon. The exhibition comes to Monmouth University's Pollak Gallery on March 20th and runs through May 31, 2023. 

The Les Paul Thru the Lens exhibit features twenty-four gallery matted and framed black and white photographs chronicling Les’ life from a small child to his later career. It includes rare personal family photos, Les behind-the-scenes, famous musicians and photos of the man with a larger than life sense of humor and an amazing curiosity for innovation. Guests of the exhibits can follow along while viewing each photograph on the web-initiated storylines for each rare image. From Les’ time inventing in his famous Hollywood garage studio to his popular Reality TV show and appearances with Mary Ford, the exhibit provides fans with the opportunity to see Les like never before.

Collectively, the images provide an intimate view into the life of an icon of the music and sound products industry and remind us that, through it all, music—and the industry—are inseparable from the people who make it.

“Les was an icon. His inventions paved the way for musicians all over the globe. His curiosity gave us the most important inventions in the music industry which are still used today. Since we want to celebrate him all year long we created the “Les Paul through the Lens” gallery exhibit. Guests will have the opportunity to find out more about Les through beautifully displayed photographs depicting important people and moments in his life. We hope you love it as much as we do.” – Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation

Monmouth University's Pollak Gallery located adjacent to the Pollak Theatre on their West Long Branch campus. It features regional artists, collaborates with community organizations on special exhibitions, and exhibits the work of special needs populations. It has also hosted special exhibits from private collectors such “Three Generations of Wyeth” and exhibitions curated by the Grammy Museum in LA.