Arthur Elgort

Arthur Elgort was born in 1940. The artist grew up in New York in an artistic family and studied painting at the prestigious Stuyvesant High School of Art, even though it was through photography that he found his true passion. While studying at New York University, he continued to refine his photography skills as a self-taught learner.

His style, marked by freedom and spontaneity, undoubtedly comes from his passion for music and dance, especially Jazz and ballet. He is renowned for capturing energy and movement in his images, often using outdoor settings and natural lighting. In front of his lens, models move freely, chosen for their spontaneity. Some of them are among the most famous, such as Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. His relaxed approach contrasts with the formality often associated with the dominant photography in the industry, revolutionizing the field. His iconic photographs have been published in the world's leading fashion magazines, including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Vanity Fair.

He is the author of 6 books:  

The Big Picture, Steidl 2014

Camera Crazy, DAP/Steidl 2004

Camera Ready: How to Shoot Your Kids, Universe/Rizzoli 1997

Arthur Elgort's Models Manual, DAP 1994

Swan Prince, Featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bantom 1987

Arthur Elgort: Personal Fashion Pictures, 1983

"I love taking pictures, especially when my subjects are varied, with a bit of everything: Fashion, Jazz, classical cance, my children, landscapes, and also the streets. I never wanted my work to be categorized. Fashion may be what's intended for sale but a girl on the subway can be fashionable, a Jazz musician can be fashionable, and a ballerina at her barre can be as well. I've always enjoyed integrating my interests into my photos, and that's reflected in my latest book 'The Big Picture,' which chronicles 45 years of work."