Brigitte Bardot

Availability: One 

Edition of Three Worldwide 

40 x 60

Each edition features unique butterfly placement, making every piece a one-of-a-kind collector’s item—an artwork worthy of a regal setting and a deep appreciation for timeless icons.

This evocative black-and-white portrait captures Brigitte Bardot in 1971, during the filming of the French-Italian Western comedy The Legend of Frenchie King (Les Pétroleuses). Shot by the legendary Terry O’Neill, the image reflects Bardot’s effortless charisma and fierce screen presence. With her signature blend of poise and rebellion, Bardot stands as both a symbol and a subversion of cinematic femininity. O’Neill, renowned for photographing the world’s most iconic figures, immortalised this moment at the height of Bardot’s cultural influence.

Brigitte Bardot, a French actress, model, and singer, became an international sensation during the 1950s and 1960s. Known for her roles that pushed boundaries and her bold personal style, she redefined female stardom for a new era. In Frenchie King, she starred opposite Claudia Cardinale as two outlaw sisters caught between lawlessness and justice in a playful twist on the Western genre.

This photograph was selected for the provocative exhibition ‘Hollywood Reloaded’, curated by artist and former Special Forces soldier Bran Symondson, and was part of the final body of work Terry O’Neill contributed to before his passing. This context adds a profound historical and emotional depth to the piece.

The original photograph is hand-signed by both Terry O’Neill and Bran Symondson, making it a rare and valuable collector’s work with powerful provenance.

At the core of the Hollywood Reloaded collection lies a bold and provocative concept: artist Bran Symondson took the very firearm depicted in each portrait and physically fired it at the photographic print itself. The result is a powerful transformation—the smooth surface of each aluminium print is punctured with real, raw bullet holes, showcasing the precise and destructive impact of that specific weapon.

This literal act of violence against the image forms the foundation of the series. It compels the viewer to confront not just the glamour and iconography of the subject, but also the very real force behind the firearms they hold. What was once a prop becomes a point of rupture—blurring the line between fiction and reality, spectacle and consequence.

In Hollywood Reloaded, legendary portraits like this one—featuring Brigitte Bardot, Roger Moore, Michael Caine, Jane Seymour, Alice Cooper, and more—are reimagined through a provocative process. Symondson fires live ammunition through each print using the same firearm depicted in or symbolically connected to the scene, leaving behind real bullet holes.

These physical disruptions cut through the glamour and idealism, forcing a confrontation with the often-overlooked violence embedded in pop culture narratives.

Here, Bardot’s cool defiance and timeless beauty are pierced by the harsh symbolism of firepower. The juxtaposition is striking, drawing attention to the contradictions between cinematic fantasy and real-world consequences.

With only three editions created worldwide, each featuring one-of-a-kind butterfly placements and signed by both O’Neill and Symondson, this piece is a powerful blend of cinema, fine art, and social commentary—a rare opportunity for serious collectors and cultural historians alike.