Lily Back, 1997

Mark Arbeit   Famous Artists

With over four decades of experience in the industry, Mark Arbeit has established himself as a master of fashion, portraiture, and fine art photography. While studying at Art Center College of Design, he met Helmut Newton, the beginning of a 25-year mentorship and friendship. Upon finishing his studies, he moved to New York, where he worked in the studio of Irving Penn.

Arbeit began his own career in 1980 in Milano, shooting fashion and portrait editorials for Linea Italiana, Amica and Vogue Bellezza magazine. In 1985, he settled in Paris to further his career and began working on the "In and Out of Focus" series, focusing sharply on the flower in the foreground while in the background, out of focus, the female nude plays against the shape of the bloom.

Arbeit continued work editorially, splitting his time between Paris and New York, shooting fashion for French Vogue and Marie Claire, and portraits for In Style and Forbes. In 1991 Arbeit launched "Artist Atelier", female nudes in painter/ sculpture studios throughout Paris.

His works are in the permanent collection of the Helmut Newton Foundation.