CURATORS’ QUOTE
“Markus Klinko is an internationally acclaimed fashion/celebrity photographer for many reasons, perhaps because he shot Beyonce’s first solo album cover ‘Dangerously in Love’ and Bowie’s ‘Heathen’ album cover and then the Bowie with wolves photo shoot where there were in fact wolves or maybe because he captures the essence of artists like no other. Vogue. GQ. Vanity Fair. Harper’s. Where there is fashion there is Klinko.
Andrea McCafferty & Kat O'Neill
Walking into this solo exhibit is like walking into a photo shoot. Beyonce and Bowie of course but for the beyond, well, Lady Gaga is sure to make an appearance but as to who else, you are just going to have to make your own appearance to find out.
This exhibit coincides with the 20-year anniversary of Beyonce’s ‘Dangerously in Love’ where Klinko had to give up his jeans to get the shot. It is always the stories behind the image that makes an exhibit come to life. But it’s the images that come to life without knowing the stories that make an exhibit.”
BIO/STATEMENT
Markus Klinko is an award-winning, international fashion/celebrity photographer and director, who has worked with many of today's most iconic stars of film, music, and fashion.
Klinko has photographed the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, and Iman. His editorial clients include Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, and Interview magazine. Brands such as Lancôme, L'Oréal Paris, Nike, Hugo Boss, Anna Sui, Pepsi, Skyy Vodka, and Remy Martin have hired Klinko to create advertising campaigns. His campaign for Keep A Child Alive raised over one million dollars for children with AIDS in just 3 days.
Born in Switzerland of French, Italian, Jewish, and Hungarian descent, Klinko spent his early years training to become a classical harp soloist. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Later, Klinko signed an exclusive recording contract with EMI Classics, as well as a management contract with Columbia Artists Management. He received the Grand Prix de Disque for his recording of French harp music, with members of the orchestra of the Paris Opera Bastille. Klinko performed in recitals and as a featured soloist with symphony orchestras around the world. He was also regularly featured in such publications as Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, GQ, The New York Times, Madame Figaro, Stereo Review, and Ongaku no Tomo.
After a hand injury, Klinko decided to become a fashion photographer and retired from his international concert and recording career. During that time, he met Indrani, who later became a regular collaborator in her role as his studio's digital post production artist and photo editor.
Isabella Blow discovered Klinko's work while at the London Sunday Times and commissioned cover stories from the emerging photographer. Around the same time, Ingrid Sischy, at Interview magazine hired Klinko for various shoots. Iman and David Bowie followed, giving the up and coming photographer a chance to photograph them for their respective book (I am Iman) and album covers (Heathen).
From there, he went on to create some of the most iconic album covers of his time, including Beyonce's Dangerously in Love, and Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi.
Many of Klinko's famous celebrity photographs can be seen in his coffee table book ICONS (Perseus). Lincoln Center in New York presented an art exhibit showcasing many prints from the book and since, art galleries and museums around the world have featured his work.
Klinko has appeared on E! News, Access Hollywood, Fashion Television, CNN's Showbiz Tonight and Larry King Live and has been the subject of the reality show Double Exposure on the Bravo network.
