ABOUT

"The images you will not forget.

The artist you will follow".

Sondra Gilman

Founder of the Photography Department

at the Whitney Museum

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Looking into the photographic body of work by Franco-American artist Laurent Elie Badessi reveals not only his deep passion for the medium but also his boundless curiosity about the world, in all its beauty and challenges.

Coming from a lineage of photographers, Badessi continually explores the vast possibilities of photography and its psychological impact, using it as a tool to delve into the complexities of humanity, both past and present.

Badessi refers to himself as a "fashion anthropologist". He began his career in the fashion industry, capturing campaigns for luxury brands. His first significant project, created for his Master's in Photography, was titled ”ETHNIK: Ethnological Fashion Photography”. In this project, Badessi photographed indigenous tribes in Africa, many of whom had little to no prior exposure to photography. This undertaking allowed him to explore the trust that developed between him and his subjects, with clothing serving as the catalyst for their connection. This experience ignited his deep fascination with the power of photography and the societal meaning of clothing, two keys elements that continue to shape his focus on projects centered around people.

Badessi's work is deeply influenced by his studies in language and communication sciences, particularly journalism and advertising, as well as his keen interest in current political, social, and environmental issues. His approach to the medium and his chosen subjects are far from spontaneous; each series is the result of extensive research, deep reflection, and sometimes even meticulous preparatory sketching.

His extensive knowledge of art history, mythology, and symbolic traditions from cultures serves as a strong foundation for addressing contemporary issues with relevance.

Selected Collections include: Whitney Museum New York, The Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Collection, Sir Elton John Collection, The Buhl Collection, Danforth Museum of Art, MA., Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, FL., Bibliothèque Nationale de France Paris, France, Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne, Switzerland, Les Arts Décoratifs/Musée de la Publicité Paris, France, Barry Diller, Dr. Daniel Baker, Karl Lagerfeld, Jacques Grange, Egon von Furstenberg, Jérôme Prochiantz, Paul Getty, Pierre Cardin, Dr. Pier Luigi Gibelli, Renaud Vercouter, Alain & Brigitte Genestar, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Royal Caribbean.