ABOUT & CONTACTS

"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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Laurent Elie Badessi is a fourth-generation photographer whose work blends fine art, portraiture and documentary to explore culture, identity, and the human condition. A French-American artist with over three decades of experience, he creates images that are both visually striking and conceptually rich, sparking conversations that challenge perceptions and cultivate curiosity.

His projects address complex themes with subtlety and depth. In Skin, the human body becomes a metaphor for our interdependence with Mother nature, underscoring the urgency of environmental preservation - a vision so ahead of its time that Sondra Gilman, founder of the Whitney Museum’s Photography Department, wrote the book’s foreword. In Age of Innocence, he documents the intricate relationship between youth and America’s gun culture, prompting dialogue about this very sensitive issue.

Beyond his personal work, Badessi has collaborated with prestigious magazines and luxury brands, translating their vision into timeless, evocative imagery. His refined visual language and narrative approach also define his role as a creative director and creative consultant, helping to shape and elevate brand identities while staying true to their DNA.

Exhibited worldwide and held in major public and private collections, his photographs have appeared in leading art fairs and biennials. He is a frequent speaker at photo festivals, universities, and art institutions, sharing insights on his practice through the years and photography’s evolving role in the digital age.

Dividing his time between New York & Paris, Laurent Elie Badessi pursues projects across continents.

Selected Collections: 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.

Selected client list: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vogue Hommes, Jalouse, Graphis, In Fashion, Essence, Cream Magazine, Têtu, Ego Magazine, Amazing Magazine, Veuve Clicquot, Porsche, L'Artisan Parfumeur, Paco Rabanne, Creative Lynx, Taj Hotels & Palaces, Anne Fontaine, Le Monde Diplomatique, Sally Hansen, L'Officiel Media Inc., B&B Italia, Elizabeth Arden, AUbade Lingerie, CULT London, Design Temple Creative, The Zoo by Christophe Laudamiel, Aura de Parfum by Ray Matts, Misahara Jewelry, Judith Ripka, Jordan Schlanger, Alain Mikli, IDC eyewear, Fuji Film, Pain de Sucre, V de V swimwear, Dream Air, Fayreform, Serono/Merck, American Express.

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