Brigitte Bardot Triptych

Availability: One 

Edition of Three Worldwide 

40 x 80

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 powerful triptych of black-and-white portraits captures Brigitte Bardot in a sequence of expressive moments taken during the 1971 filming of The Legend of Frenchie King (Les Pétroleuses). Shot by the legendary Terry O’Neill, the three-panel composition reveals Bardot’s magnetic screen presence, shifting from fierce to playful in a matter of frames. The work is a striking study in character and charisma—an icon in motion, frozen in time by one of the 20th century’s most influential photographers. O’Neill’s work remains celebrated in international museums and elite private collections.

Brigitte Bardot, a French actress, singer, and model, rose to global fame in the 1950s and ’60s as a cultural and cinematic trailblazer. In Frenchie King, she played one of two outlaw sisters in a subversive Western comedy that flipped genre tropes on their head. The film is known for its unapologetic female leads, with Bardot portraying power and sensuality on her own terms.

This triptych was selected for the acclaimed exhibition ‘Hollywood Reloaded’, created by artist and former Special Forces soldier Bran Symondson, and stands as part of the final project Terry O’Neill worked on before his passing, lending the piece significant historical and emotional resonance.

The original triptych is hand-signed by both Terry O’Neill and Bran Symondson, making it a uniquely rare and highly collectable artwork with exceptional provenance.

As with all works in Hollywood Reloaded, this piece has undergone a powerful transformation. Symondson fires live rounds through the imagery using the same type of firearm symbolically tied to the film, leaving behind authentic bullet holes that rupture the polished façade of celebrity. These physical wounds disrupt the idealised glamour and ask viewers to confront the often-overlooked consequences behind the glorification of violence in pop culture.

In this case, Bardot’s fierce yet feminine portrayal is both celebrated and interrogated. The interplay between her commanding presence and the violent intrusion of the bullet holes creates a dynamic tension, transforming a cinematic icon into a contemporary artwork with urgency and relevance.

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.

With only three editions created worldwide, each featuring uniquely placed butterflies and signed by both creators, this triptych stands as a bold fusion of visual storytelling, cultural critique, and historical legacy—an essential addition to any serious art or film collection.