Michel Comte - Solo Expositie

The exhibition shows an exceptional selection of photographs that gave the face to the ’90s and ’20s. Comte’s images of models and celebrities possess a unique sense of climax, as though everything has built up precisely to the moment he captured. Gisele Bündchen, Daryl Hannah, Miles Davis, Mike Tyson, Sophia Coppola, Naomi Campbell Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen, Don King; just a few of the names presented in an exhibition that gives a unique insight of the work of one of the most sought-after fashion and magazine photographers in the world.

Born in Zurich, Switzerland (1954), and self-taught in the art of photography, Comte received his first international advertising assignment in 1979 from Karl Lagerfeld for the fashion house of Chloe. Within a few years, Comte became one of the world's most sought-after fashion and magazine photographers with campaigns for prestigious brands such as Armani, Dolce &Gabbana, Nike and Lancôme. He developed an unmistakable style and his photographs appear in international magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Harper's Bazaar.

Michel Comte started his career in restoring contemporary art, specialized in the work of Andy Warhol and Yves Klein. This provided a basis for understanding the environment of a world that is much larger than photography. It gave Comte the insight to look at fashion and style as a progressive art form always in development. Comte has also built up an exceptional body of work in the field of reportage photography. Servicing the International Red Cross (IRC), he traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Africa to capture images that depict the horrors of war and famine. In 2004, Michel Comte started his own foundation aiming to give people in the third world access to drinking water.

From fashion photography for Vogue to working for the Red Cross, photographer Michel Comte left his mark in every genre he decided to venture into. His work is part of the world’s most prestigious collections, shown worldwide in museums and can count on strong international results on auctions - the photo of Carla Bruni "Safe Sex Campaign" shown in Kunsthuis Amsterdam realized 100,000 euros during an auction at Sotheby's. With his oeuvre, Michel Comte consistently transcends the limitations of the traditional fashion or portrait photographer and with his unique artistic and creative vision, Comte signed for some of the most iconic images of the ’90s and ’20s.

Asked about the recipe of a good photo Michel Comte answers, the magic of a good photograph takes shape when 30 years of practice and experience coincides with the instant you snap the shot. So a perfect photo actually takes 30 years and 5 minutes all at once".