May Pang is an enigmatic and fascinating figure to many people, and she draws varied reactions, from the animosity of those who believe she is making money from something she ought not to make money from, to the strange and enduring fascination of those who see her as someone denied something to which she was entitled, a kind of stand-in for everyone who was ever screwed over.

If you don’t know who she is, let us educate you: for eighteen months in the mid-1970s, she participated in the making of three classic John Lennon albums, Mind Games, Walls and Bridges and Rock ’n’ Roll, serving as production coordinator on the latter two, as well as working behind the scenes on recordings on which Lennon collaborated with Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr, Elton John and David Bowie. She was also Lennon’s girlfriend while he was separated from his wife. (His wife was named “Yoko.” But this isn’t about her.)

Pang’s influence is obvious in the music from that period, especially on Walls and Bridges and Rock ’n’ Roll, and it can easily be argued that, without her work, those albums and Lennon’s only lifetime solo No. 1 single, “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” would not exist in quite the form they do (or maybe not at all; without May Pang by his side, he might not have recorded any of it).

Her voice can be heard whispering “John” on “#9 Dream,” and Lennon wrote “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” for her.

What has brought on the animosity is that, like virtually everyone else who worked with Lennon during that period, from David Bowie to Mick Jagger, she has from time to time talked about it, which is an entirely normal thing to do. She is also sometimes criticized as John Lennon’s “other woman,” when, in fact, she was his girlfriend; he and his wife were separated at the time, and Yoko was well-aware of his relationship with May. On the other hand, what has brought on the deep sympathy is that she and Lennon eventually broke up, as most rock stars and rock-star girlfriends do.

None of that should be odd or controversial, and the controversy and oddness associated with her name owes more to the way her actions have been portrayed than anything she has actually ever done.

Her legacy, really, is the music that she helped bring into being quietly, working behind the scenes rather than claiming the spotlight; she was the anti-Yoko, and the music benefited. It is too bad that her post-Lennon period was not equally artistically productive, but that’s also how these things go, sometimes. She had a couple of kids and seems to be a good mom.

She is also a good photographer, and in recent years, Pang has toured the country exhibiting and selling the candid photographs she took during that era, which is an entirely appropriate thing for a good photographer to do.

The work, which she brings to the West and Southwest over the next few months, is worth seeing.

May Pang Exhibition Calendar

The Lost Weekend: The Photography of May Pang features Pang’s candid photographs of John Lennon. Admission to the exhibitions is free, the photographs are available for purchase and Pang is scheduled to attend. Under gallery rules, she will autograph only items purchased at the exhibitions.

September 11–13, 2026: Menlo Park, California
Peabody Gallery, 603 Santa Cruz Avenue
Friday, 4–7 p.m.; Saturday, noon–6 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

September 15–16, 2026: Fresno, California
K-Jewel Art Gallery, 1415 Fulton Street
Tuesday and Wednesday, 2–8 p.m.

September 17–20, 2026: San Luis Obispo, California
EDNA Contemporary, 967 Osos Street
A screening of The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, followed by a Q&A with Pang and a private gallery reception, will take place at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm Street, on Thursday, September 17, at 5:45 p.m. A ticket is required.
Public exhibition hours: Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday, noon–5 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

September 22–23, 2026: Santa Barbara, California
Tamsen Gallery, 1309 State Street
Tuesday and Wednesday, 1–7 p.m.

November 6–8, 2026: Las Vegas, Nevada
Desert Valley Gallery, 410 S. Rampart Boulevard, in Tivoli Village
Friday and Saturday, 3–8 p.m.; Sunday, 1–5 p.m.

November 12–14, 2026: Tucson, Arizona
Arizona Picture & Frame Gallery, 4523 E. Speedway Boulevard
Special guest Chris O’Dell will appear with Pang. Check the exhibition website for confirmed daily hours.

December 11–13, 2026: El Paso, Texas
The Falstaff Project, 3801 Frutas Avenue
Friday, 5–8 p.m.; Saturday, noon–6 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

December 18–20, 2026: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Neptune Event Space, 728 Canyon Road
Hours to be announced.

January 22–24, 2027: Amarillo, Texas
Arts in the Sunset, Crouch Gallery, 3701 Plains Boulevard
Friday, 3–7 p.m.; Saturday, noon–6 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

January 26–27, 2027: Lubbock, Texas
Fine Arts Gallery at the Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Avenue
Tuesday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

January 29–31, 2027: Midland, Texas
FaFa Gallery, 438 Andrews Highway
Friday, 2–8 p.m.; Saturday, noon–6 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

February 26–28, 2027: Dallas, Texas
Art on Main, 4428 Main Street, Suite 200
Friday, 1–7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

Dates and hours are subject to change. Consult May Pang Photography’s exhibition calendar before attending.

Photograph from May Pang’s Facebook page.