The World’s Most Glamourous Art Destination, St Barths sizzled with ten legendary photographers exhibiting and partying in St Barth’s luxury 5-star hotels and villas.
The opening parties took place in November and December at venues across the island, while four photos from some of the most renowned photographers working regularly in St Barths were donated and auctioned at Luisaviaroma Gala for Unicef at Eden Rock.
The St Barth Photo Festival 2021 is held to celebrate the unique relationship that world-renowned fashion photographers have with the island, which has inspired countless iconic images and continues to be a destination for art lovers.
The photos exhibited all share the sunny and elegant atmosphere of the island and are ideal for luxury homes like those in St Barth.
Organised by Artists of St Barth Association, Tourisme Saint-Barthélemy and Collectivité Saint-Barthélemy, with partners Barons de Rothschild Champagne, St Barth Commuter, Tradewind, SBH Executive and Prix Picto de la Mode.
Antoine Verglas, Président of Artists of St Barth Association, said: “For this third edition of the Art Week, you will be able to discover the works of 10 of the most world renowned fashion photographers in 10 exceptional venues and luxury hotels of the island of Saint Barthélemy.”
“It is in these glorious settings that these international artists will exhibit their work with a designated evening vernissage party for each of them.”
“Let me also highlight a new partnership with Picto Photo Foundation and its annual Prix de la Photographie de Mode which will help us introduce fascinating artists at our future Art Weeks. Saint Barthélemy was already known for its beaches, luxurious villas and hotels. It is also now appreciated for its artistic dynamism.”
Ellen Von Unwerth “Party Time” at Cheval Blanc
Ellen von Unwerth, born 1954 in Germany, gained wide attention with her sensual Guess campaign in the early 1990s. She is a regular contributor to magazines all over the world. Furthermore she directed short films for clients like Azzedine Alaïa, Dior, Guess, and Katherine Hamnett, and a range of commercials and music videos. Von Unwerth won several prizes: first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography in 1991, a LUCIE award for her career in 2019, a Royal Photographic Society award in 2020 and an Iconic Photographer Influencer Award in 2021.
Greg Lotus “By the Pool” at Christopher St Barth
Greg Lotus reinterprets in his own evocative way the use of light and shadow, playing with angles and composition to enhance the graphic quality of his images. He often mixes high fashion with rural or wild surroundings and includes exotic animals in his compositions, using elements that link the rarefied atmosphere of the fashion industry to the organic beauty of the natural world. Greg Lotus splits his time between Manhattan, Paris and Miami, travelling frequently on assignment to Europe.
David Drebin “Sea Gazing” at Le Toiny
In a unique manner, David Drebin’s work combines voyeuristic and psychological viewpoints. After graduating from Parsons School of Design in New York City in 1996, David Drebin rapidly made a name for himself as an internationally renowned photographer creating images of movie stars, sports personalities and various entertainers and subsequently was commissioned for countless high profile advertising campaigns around the world. In 2018 the record price of a David Drebin photograph “Jerusalem” sold for $100,000 through Art Angels Gallery in Los Angeles.
Marco Glaviano “50 Years in St Barth” at Rosewood Le Guanahani
Marco Glaviano was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1942. His photographs began appearing in major European fashion magazines, notably Italian Vogue, which eventually brought him to New York City in 1975 where he was soon under contract for American Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Glaviano has continued to photograph fashion and beauty for the leading American and European magazines and has achieved status in the fashion industry as one of the top photographers in the world, having photographed more than 500 covers and editorials for the most prestigious international publications.
Bryan Bowen Smith “Angels and Drivebys” at Hôtel Barrière Carl Gustaf
Born in New York, Brian Bowen Smith became a professional photographer by a less than traditional route. After catching the eye of Herb Ritts while performing as a pro athlete in a print campaign, the legendary photographer became a friend and mentor, helping Brian to find his personal photographic style. Brian has been working steadily ever since, shooting for countless publications and commercial clients, as well as focusing heavily on his fine art photography. When Brian’s not shooting, you will find him in California surfing, snowboarding or riding his motorcycle.
David Bellemere “Flowers” at Le Sereno
David Bellemere was born and raised in Paris. He caught the eye of various French magazines that commissioned him in his early 20s. David is recognized for his unique light, colors, and composition, always celebrating beauty. The adjectives most often used to describe his pictures are sensual, delicate, and feminine. He has contributed to Elle Russia, Marie Claire Italy, MUI Magazine, Vogue Paris, Vogue US, Nippon Vogue, and Harpers Bazaar UK. His commercial clients include Dior, Chanel, Maje, Hermes, Lanvin, Eres, Charles Jourdan, Free People, La Perla and Net-A-Porter.
Ben Watts “Summer Island” at Villa Marie St Barth
Ben Watts is the older brother of Naomi Watts and son of Peter Watts, who was Pink Floyd’s sound engineer. He studied at the Sydney College of the Arts in Australia, where he started his photographic career as a photographer’s assistant. He first came to New York in 1990, where he started documenting urban youth and hip hop culture. His work was shown in Vibe, Rolling Stone, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Condé Nast Traveller and in advertisements for Nike, Reebok and Gap. Ben Watts has also shot advertising campaigns for labels such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Kodak, Sony Music and Apple.
Greg Kadel “Plein Soleil” at Le Manapany
Greg Kadel is a US born fashion photographer and filmmaker based in New York. His images have been described as “classic with a modern flair” and he is respected for his unique ability to bring the best out of his subjects. They have appeared in publications including Allure, GQ, Details, The Face, Glamour Italy, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, Marie Claire, Numero and several Vogue editions. His advertising clients include Anna Sui, Bergdorf Goodman, Christian Dior, Hermes, H&M, Jil Sander, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, L’Oreal, Michael Kors, Reebok, Salvatore Ferragamo and Shiseido.
Fred Meylan “Swim For Ever” at Le Barthélemy
Fred Meylan started his career in the 1980s as a photo reporter. In early 2000, he turned to fashion photography, working today with the most famous top models (Kendall Jenner, Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid, Lara Stone). For the past twenty years, he has also signed all Zadig & Voltaire campaigns as well as many other brands. In 2013, he created his own studio located rue Saint Honoré in Paris. Along with his work in fashion, he developed a passion for marine photography and began to show this artistic work through upcoming exhibitions, starting with Saint Barthélemy.
Daniel Arsham “Moon Shot” at Eden Rock
Some of Arsham’s more recent collaborative endeavors exist in the fashion world. These include projects with brands such as Adidas, Dior, Toraichi, Byredo, Rimowa, and Porsche. The collaboration between Daniel Arsham X Dior SS20 includes apparel, jewelry, accessories, and shoes inspired by Arsham’s sculptures and artwork. Arsham’s work has been shown at PS1 in New York, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, The New Museum In New York, Mills College Art Museum in Oakland, Cincinnati CAC, SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah GA and Carré d’Art de Nîmes, France among others.
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