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Michel Comte

Swiss, b. 1954

From humanitarian assignments in war-torn countries to photoshoots with some of the world’s most prominent people and brands, Michel Comte is a celebrated contemporary magazine and fashion photographer who has worked all over the globe. 

Collaborating with the likes of Vogue Italia, l'Uomo Vogue, Vanity Fair and Interview didn’t happen instantly for Comte. Born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland, the photographer began his career in art restoration, working on pieces by Andy Warhol and Yves Klein until 1979, when he secured his first assignment from fashion industry legend Karl Lagerfeld for French luxury house Chloé. Later, Lagerfeld arranged for Comte to work with Chanel, and from there, the photographer built relationships with numerous brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferre, Ferrari, Hennessy, Hermès, Lancôme, Jaguar and more.

Comte worked on photoshoots with many celebrities and public figures such as Mike Tyson, Miles Davis, Sofia Coppola, Elijah Wood, Tina Turner and others.

While keeping busy with shoots, Comte also found time to set up his own humanitarian organization and established successful fundraising efforts with the International Red Cross that focused on supplying clean water to countries in need.

As a passionate mountain climber, Comte became intimately aware of global warming and has worked for decades to increase public awareness relating to climate change. Comte scaled mountains by air and foot to photograph the changes in ice caps — often returning to the same locations all over the world in order to document the disappearing ice.

Comte has exhibited internationally at institutions such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the Kunst Haus Wien in Austria, the Verona Centro Internazionale di Fotografia and Munich Pinakothek der Moderne

Find authentic Michel Comte photography on 1stDibs.

Supermodels - Group Portrait in Palazzo Versace, Fine Art Photography, 1994
Supermodels - Group Portrait in Palazzo Versace, Fine Art Photography, 1994

Supermodels - Group Portrait in Palazzo Versace, Fine Art Photography, 1994

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

Glamorous Group Portrait of the most famous Supermodels of the 90s in the Palazzo Versace, wearing the famous Versace Oroton Chainmail dresses, photographed by Michel Comte in 1994. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and signed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certificate of authenticity from the gallery. With "Supermodels, Versace, 1994," Michel Comte captured a moment of unparalleled glamour from the world of haute couture. Set against the backdrop of Versace's iconic fashion house, this fine art print immortalizes a gathering of legendary supermodels amid a timeless fashion moment. With his discerning eye for composition and detail, Comte expertly frames the scene, allowing the viewer to witness the convergence of beauty, style, and sophistication. Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni, Nadja Auermann, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Shalom Harlow, Kristy Hume, Linda Evangelista, Nadege Du Bospertus, and Brandi Quinones staged for Vogue in blue and turquoise baroque shades. The saturated colors of the broiling desert against the piercing blue of the clear sky or the cool palette of an intimate black-and-white portrait, Michel Comte can do it all. The Swiss star...

Category

1990s Contemporary Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Gisele Buendchen - the naked supermodel in a black dress, wind blowing in Cannes

Gisele Buendchen - the naked supermodel in a black dress, wind blowing in Cannes

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

In 1999, star photographer Michel Comte created a series of images with supermodel Gisele Bündchen in Cannes, France for Vogue Italia. The highly praised artworks are now part of fas...

Category

1990s Contemporary Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Rizzoli Nudes II - nude model lounging on blankets, fine art photography, 1998
Rizzoli Nudes II - nude model lounging on blankets, fine art photography, 1998

Rizzoli Nudes II - nude model lounging on blankets, fine art photography, 1998

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

Other sizes and high end framing on request. For decades Michel Comte has been shooting protagonists from the world of art, film and entertainment. However, he does not only take pho...

Category

1990s Contemporary Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Gisele Bündchen - Nude Portrait with Jewelry, fine art photography, 1999
Gisele Bündchen - Nude Portrait with Jewelry, fine art photography, 1999

Gisele Bündchen - Nude Portrait with Jewelry, fine art photography, 1999

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

Nude Portrait of Supermodel Gisele Bündchen with Jewelry in front of blue sky, photographed by Michel Comte for Vogue Italia in 1999. All prints are limited edition. Available in mul...

Category

1990s Contemporary Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Helena Christensen with a Hat - B&W Fashion Photography, 1993
Helena Christensen with a Hat - B&W Fashion Photography, 1993

Helena Christensen with a Hat - B&W Fashion Photography, 1993

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

Supermodel Helena Christensen sitting with a giant Feather Hat, photographed by Michel Comte in 1993. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing o...

Category

1990s Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Helena Christensen III, Safer Sex, Limited Edition Print, Black and White, 1993
Helena Christensen III, Safer Sex, Limited Edition Print, Black and White, 1993

Helena Christensen III, Safer Sex, Limited Edition Print, Black and White, 1993

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

“Helena Christensen III, Safer Sex Campaign for Playboy, 1993” by Michel Comte captures one of the most iconic moments of 1990s fashion photography, combining sensuality, elegance, and the visual language of high-end editorial imagery. Shot during the celebrated Playboy “Safer Sex” campaign, the photograph features Danish supermodel Helena Christensen at the height of the supermodel era—an image that reflects both the glamour and cultural shifts of the early 1990s. Michel Comte, renowned for his striking black-and-white portraiture and work with leading fashion magazines and luxury brands, approaches the nude figure with sculptural precision. Soft lighting and a minimalist studio background emphasize Christensen’s graceful pose and natural beauty, creating a timeless composition that sits at the intersection of fashion photography, fine art nude, and iconic celebrity portraiture. The image embodies the refined aesthetic that made Comte one of the most sought-after photographers of his generation. Highly collectible and increasingly difficult to acquire, “Helena Christensen III, Safer Sex Campaign for Playboy, 1993” represents a significant piece of 1990s fashion photography history. With editions nearly sold out, this work appeals to collectors interested in supermodel imagery, Playboy photography...

Category

1990s Contemporary Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Iman - the supermodel in boots naked in front of a green background
Iman - the supermodel in boots naked in front of a green background

Iman - the supermodel in boots naked in front of a green background

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

Iman by Michel Comte a great artwork wich portraits the supermodel in front of a green background with a cigarette in her mouth. Other sizes and high-end frame on request. For decade...

Category

2010s Contemporary Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

Claudia Schiffer

Michel ComteClaudia Schiffer, 1994

$14,216

H 35.83 in W 35.83 in

Claudia Schiffer

By Michel Comte

Located in Vienna, AT

For decades Michel Comte has been shooting protagonists from the world of art, film and entertainment. However, he does not only take photos – perhaps more than any other artist Comt...

Category

1990s Michel Comte

Materials

Archival Pigment

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Michel Comte art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Michel Comte art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, red, green and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Michel Comte in archival pigment print, pigment print, c print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Michel Comte art, so small editions measuring 23 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Bruno Bisang, Arthur Elgort, and Greg Gorman. Michel Comte art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $8,500 and tops out at $16,000, while the average work can sell for $10,000.