A documentary portrait of Gary Heery — an artist obsessed with control, now confronting the one thing he can't master: time.
Art. Control. A Fight Against Time.
UNFADED is a portrait of Gary Heery: an artist who has built a five-decade career on control — over light, over composition, over every detail of an image — now confronting the one thing he can't direct. As his legacy takes shape, the fight to stay relevant becomes as compelling as the work itself.
It's directed by Christopher Ireland, an internationally awarded filmmaker whose work spans commercial campaigns, fine art and documentary storytelling, with recognition from D&AD, Cannes and the One Show. His previous documentary, Salt in the Blood — following two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll — aired on National Geographic. Unfaded continues Ireland's exploration of identity, control and legacy, this time turning the lens on Heery himself.
For Heery, the film arrives at a pivotal point in a career spent shaping how others are seen — from Madonna's debut album cover to portraits of Andy Warhol, Cate Blanchett and Robin Williams. Unfaded turns that same unflinching eye back on its subject, following Heery as he reckons with what it means to keep making work that matters, on his own terms, for as long as he can.
Film Teaser
Production Status
Unfaded is currently a work in progress. The team is open to conversations with sponsors, networks and collaborators interested in bringing this story to a wider audience.
What People Are Saying
"I'm not a clairvoyant or a prophet, but I think certainly Gary's work will be looked at in the same way that we look at great portraiture of the past, reaching back hundreds of years."
Tim Olson, Gallerist, Olsen Gallery
"He captured something in me I didn't know existed… the anger and the fear and the pain and the hope. There's very few artists of Gary's caliber still pushing themselves like that. I think his legacy is going to be massive — because he's not looking back. He's always moving."
Jimmy Barnes
Contact
Christopher Ireland (Director) — chris@christopherireland.net
Gary Heery — info@garyheery.com
Earlier: Heery's World (2015, dir. Liz Jones)
In a world where everyone takes a photograph, what is the value of professional portraiture — an antiquated art, or a dynamic form that can still survive today? Heery's World follows Gary Heery on a series of photographic quests, from a Bandidos clubhouse to a gay S&M parlour, driven by his wild, uncensored approach to his subjects. The result is a deep appreciation for the creative process itself, and for the marginalised characters who often matter as much as the final image.