Biography

Born in Aimorés, Brazil in 1944, Sebastião Salgado studied economics before switching to photography in 1973. His economic experience was put to use at the World Bank before his photographic adventure brought him to Magnum Photos in 1979. He started Amazonas Images alongside his wife, Lélia. Over the course of his five-decade career, he has visited over 120 nations, photographing major moments and concerns.

He is known for his striking black and white compositions, which combine creative talent with a strong sense of social and environmental responsibility. His widely regarded paintings, including “The Other Americas,” “Sahel,” “Workers,” “Migrations,” and “Genesis,” provide detailed record of human life and our planet’s delicate state. He has received multiple accolades for his contributions to photography, including the W. Eugene Smith Grant, the Royal Photographic Society Centenary Medal, and the Sony World Photography accolades’ Outstanding Contribution to Photography honour. In addition to his photography, Salgado is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and a member of France’s Académie des Beaux-Arts.

Salgado’s corpus of work is distinguished by his dedication to long-term, self-initiated undertakings that include much research and writing. With a strong sense of humanity, he investigates issues such as poverty, migration, labour, human rights, and ecology, appreciating worldwide cultural diversity while pushing for environmental conservation.

I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a second. It’s very instinctive. What you do is a fraction of a second, it’s there and it’s not there. But in this fraction of a second comes your past, comes your future, comes your relation with people, comes your ideology, comes your hate, comes your love – all together in this fraction of a second, it materializes there.
Sebastiao Salgado

His influence goes beyond photography, shaping the perspectives of other artists and sparking critical debates on global issues. He actively supports efforts to better people’s lives and safeguard ecosystems, particularly through the Instituto Terra, which he and his wife founded in 1998 to restore Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

Although Salgado has retired from active fieldwork, his passion for storytelling endures. He currently spends his time collecting his huge database of over 500,000 photographs, ready to share his life’s work with the world. He continues to take part in exhibitions and partnerships, such as the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 in London and a project with the Wende Museum in Los Angeles, all with a focus on capturing the Amazon jungle.

In reflecting on his legacy, Salgado expresses thanks for his diverse life experiences. He sees his work as more than just a portrayal of the globe; it is a monument to the beauty and hardships that humanity faces. He hopes that his images will serve as a compelling reminder to future generations of the critical need to safeguard and preserve our world.

In the annals of photographic history, a name emerges, shrouded in mystery yet illuminated by the brilliance of her captured moments – Vivian Maier. Born in the bustling metropolis of New York City in 1926, Maier’s life unfolded as a tapestry of enigmatic hues, her story as captivating as the images she left behind. Like an undiscovered constellation in the vast expanse of the cosmos, her work emerged from obscurity, leaving the world spellbound by its raw beauty and unfiltered authenticity.

Maier’s journey into the realm of photography began as an unassuming pursuit, a humble hobby interwoven into the fabric of her daily life. For decades, she served as a nanny, traversing the bustling streets of Chicago with her trusty Rolleiflex camera in hand, her lens serving as a silent observer of the human condition. Little did the world know that within the confines of her unassuming persona lay a treasure trove of photographic brilliance waiting to be unearthed.

It wasn’t until 2007, two years prior to her passing, that Maier’s photographic legacy was thrust into the limelight. A serendipitous discovery by amateur historian John Maloof, who stumbled upon a trove of her undeveloped film negatives at a local auction, ignited a spark that would illuminate Maier’s path to posthumous acclaim. What emerged from the depths of anonymity was a body of work unparalleled in its breadth and depth, a testament to Maier’s unparalleled eye for composition and her uncanny ability to capture the essence of life in all its myriad forms.

Maier’s photography transcends the constraints of time and space, offering a poignant window into the soul of mid-20th century America. Her subjects, ranging from the destitute denizens of the urban landscape to the serene scenes of suburban life, reflect a keen sense of empathy and compassion. Through her lens, she immortalized moments of quiet introspection and fleeting joy, each frame a testament to the indomitable human spirit’s resilience in the face of adversity.

What sets Maier apart from her contemporaries is not merely the sheer volume of her work but also the striking intimacy with which she approached her subjects. Unlike many street photographers of her time, Maier eschewed the role of the detached observer, instead immersing herself fully in the lives of those she photographed. This intimacy is palpable in the hauntingly evocative portraits that populate her oeuvre, each one a testament to the profound connection she forged with her subjects.

Yet, for all the acclaim that Maier’s work has garnered in the years since its discovery, the woman behind the lens remains a tantalizing enigma. Much of her life remains shrouded in mystery, her motivations and innermost thoughts lost to the passage of time. Was she a reluctant artist, content to let her work speak for itself? Or was photography simply a means of coping with the tumultuous currents of her own life?

As we delve deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of Maier’s psyche, one thing becomes abundantly clear – her legacy is as enduring as it is enigmatic. In a world increasingly inundated with digital ephemera, her photographs serve as a poignant reminder of the power of the human gaze to transcend the limitations of time and space. Like a silent witness to the passage of history, Maier’s work continues to inspire and captivate, inviting us to ponder the timeless mysteries of the human experience.

In the ever-evolving realm of contemporary art, where boundaries are continually pushed and perceptions challenged, the enigmatic duo known as the Miaz Brothers stand as pioneers of a unique genre within the world of photography. Their work transcends conventional definitions, blurring the lines between reality and imagination, leaving viewers entranced by the ethereal beauty of their creations.

Hailing from Milan, Italy, the Miaz Brothers, Roberto and Renato, have garnered international acclaim for their mesmerizing portraits that defy traditional techniques and perceptions of visual art. Their journey into the world of photography began as a quest to capture the essence of human emotion and the transient nature of existence. However, what sets them apart is their unorthodox approach to the medium, utilizing a technique they have coined as “blurism.”

At first glance, their portraits appear to be veiled in a haze, with subjects seemingly emerging from the depths of memory or dreams. Yet, upon closer inspection, one realizes that this effect is not achieved through digital manipulation or post-processing trickery, but rather through meticulous application of spray paint onto canvas. The result is a hauntingly beautiful fusion of photography and painting, where the boundaries between the two dissolve, leaving behind a narrative that is at once familiar and otherworldly.

The Miaz Brothers draw inspiration from a myriad of sources, ranging from classical portraiture to contemporary street art. Their work is a testament to the power of collaboration, as they seamlessly blend their individual visions to create a singular, cohesive aesthetic. Each portrait tells a story, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and introspection.

One of the most striking aspects of the Miaz Brothers’ work is their ability to evoke a sense of timelessness. Their portraits transcend temporal boundaries, existing in a realm where past, present, and future converge. In doing so, they challenge the viewer to reconsider their preconceived notions of reality and perception, prompting a deeper exploration of the human psyche.

In recent years, the Miaz Brothers have expanded their artistic repertoire beyond traditional portraiture, exploring themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage. Their installations have graced galleries and museums around the world, captivating audiences with their haunting beauty and thought-provoking concepts.

Despite their growing international acclaim, the Miaz Brothers remain humble and grounded, viewing their work as a reflection of the collective human experience. Through their art, they seek to foster empathy, understanding, and connection in an increasingly fragmented world.

As we navigate the complexities of the modern age, the Miaz Brothers serve as beacons of inspiration, reminding us of the boundless potential of the human spirit. Theirs is a journey of exploration and discovery, a testament to the enduring power of creativity to transcend barriers and unite us all in a shared celebration of beauty and wonder. In a world filled with noise and chaos, their art speaks volumes, whispering truths that resonate across time and space.

In the annals of photography, few names evoke as much intrigue, creativity, and sheer surrealism as that of Man Ray. Born Emmanuel Radnitzky on August 27, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this enigmatic artist became a pioneer of both modernist photography and the surrealist movement, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art and imagery. Man Ray’s journey into the realm of photography began in the early 20th century when he moved to New York City and became involved in the burgeoning avant-garde scene. Inspired by the works of European artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Francis Picabia, he quickly embraced the principles of Dadaism, an artistic movement characterized by its rejection of traditional norms and its embrace of chaos and absurdity.

It was during this time that Man Ray began experimenting with photography as a means of artistic expression. Rejecting the conventional techniques of the day, he instead embraced unconventional methods such as solarization, multiple exposures, and photograms – a process that involves placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper and exposing them to light. These techniques not only challenged the boundaries of traditional photography but also allowed Man Ray to create images that were hauntingly surreal and deeply symbolic.

One of Man Ray’s most iconic works from this period is “Le Violon d’Ingres” (Ingres’s Violin), a photograph that depicts a nude woman with f-holes painted onto her back, resembling the sound holes of a violin. The image is a striking juxtaposition of classical beauty and modernist abstraction, embodying the surrealistic ethos that defined much of Man Ray’s work.

In 1921, Man Ray moved to Paris, where he became a central figure in the city’s vibrant artistic community. It was here that he became associated with the surrealist movement, a group of artists and writers who sought to unlock the creative potential of the unconscious mind. Alongside luminaries such as André Breton and Salvador Dalí, Man Ray helped to define the visual language of surrealism, producing a body of work that blurred the line between dreams and reality.

One of Man Ray’s most famous surrealist photographs is “L’Enigme d’Isidore Ducasse” (The Enigma of Isidore Ducasse), a haunting portrait of a disembodied female head shrouded in fabric. The image is a meditation on the mysterious and the unknowable, inviting viewers to contemplate the enigmatic nature of existence itself.

Throughout his career, Man Ray continued to push the boundaries of photography, experimenting with new techniques and pushing the medium to its limits. He was a master of light and shadow, using them to create images that were at once ethereal and hauntingly beautiful.

In addition to his work as a photographer, Man Ray was also a skilled painter and sculptor, creating works that were imbued with the same sense of surrealism and experimentation that defined his photographic oeuvre. His multidisciplinary approach to artmaking allowed him to explore a wide range of themes and ideas, from the nature of reality to the passage of time.

Despite his prolific output and enduring influence, Man Ray’s work was not always well-received by the mainstream art world. His unconventional techniques and avant-garde sensibilities often baffled critics and audiences alike, leading to periods of obscurity and neglect.

However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Man Ray and his contributions to the world of photography. His work continues to inspire artists and photographers around the world, reminding us of the boundless possibilities of the medium and the power of imagination.

As we reflect on the legacy of Man Ray, we are reminded of the transformative power of art to challenge our perceptions, expand our minds, and transport us to new and uncharted territories. In an age of digital manipulation and instant gratification, his work serves as a testament to the enduring power of creativity and the eternal quest for beauty and meaning in the world around us.