Olivier Ribardière

Olivier Ribardière is a self-taught artist. At the age of 20, after some brief photography studies, he becomes André BERG?s first assistant. This is how he takes his first artistic steps.

He is motivated to learn and widen his horizon, and he joins the Pin-up studio where he is the assistant of several important artists, such as Oliviero TOSCANI, Jean-Paul GOUDE, Peter LINDBERG, Gilles TAPIE, Jean François JONVELLE.

Having gained valuable experience, he starts to work at the age of 25. He is conscientious and talented and manages to achieve recognition very quickly as a professional photographer.

His sensitivity and his photographic maturity allowed him to discover the universe of childhood. He has become very quickly one of the most important names in fashion photography.

He collaborates with the most important haute-couture brands, with advertising firms and with media. Since the year 2000, Olivier Ribardière has been working between France, Spain, England and the US.

In 2011, he realizes that the professional side of his practice is not enough for him anymore. He needs a more personal approach of photography and he has the idea to take photos of children.

He finds ambivalence in children?s expressions, one that is open to a double interpretation:
-A tender and troubling feeling.
-An interesting initiative to explore in the photograph.

The naivety of children allows him to express feelings that are free from all prejudice.