Ellen von Unwerth Art
German, b. 1954
Ellen von Unwerth is a director and photographer whose bold and erotic images of women have left an indelible mark on the visual landscape of the fashion world.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, von Unwerth was a model in Paris for nearly a decade before turning to photography. Her 1989 images of Claudia Schiffer for a Guess jeans campaign, echoing the playfully feminine style of 1950s pinups, earned both Schiffer and von Unwerth wide attention. Over the years, her work has been featured regularly in magazines like Interview, Vanity Fair, Vogue, I-D and The Face, appearing on covers and in both editorial and commercial contexts. In 1991, she won first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography.
Von Unwerth’s 1995 photoshoot of Drew Barrymore for Playboy magazine is among her most popular work and, coupled with an array of album covers for such artists as Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, gave her standing as a celebrity photographer beyond the borders of the fashion world. Von Unwerth’s pictures have a distinctive look and feel, with saturated colors and dense compositions, while also, in certain cases, paying homage to great photographers of the 20th century.
The 2015 Tree of Love, Bavaria, in which a nude model reclines inside the heart-shaped hollow of an enormous decaying trunk, recalls Edward Weston’s sensuous use of the body’s geometry in his compositions. And the dramatically lit Tic Tac Toe from 2010, showing a scantily clad woman posing on a city street at night, evokes Helmut Newton’s atmospheric photograph of a model wearing Yves St. Laurent’s Le Smoking jacket, shot for French Vogue in 1975.
Von Unwerth has published several books of her photographs, including Revenge, in 2003, and Fräulein, in 2009. Those volumes have been joined by one showcasing the photos of her series “Heimat,” in which she playfully combines visual tropes of traditional Bavarian life with her signature eroticism and wit. She is represented by several dealers, including the Staley-Wise Gallery, in New York, and Galerie Trabant, in Kitzbühel, Austria.
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Artist: Ellen von Unwerth
Second Skin: Anton Thiemke, Milan, 2022
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Fallen Party Angel, Paris, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Invitation Only, Paris, 2007
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Heidi, Kitzbuhel, 2003
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Bye Bye Paris: Olya Ivanisevic, Paris, 2006
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Emma de Caunes, French Playboy, 2009
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Unmasking: Demi Moore, New York, 1996
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Joy, New York, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
POP Princess, London, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Intermission: Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, Cannes, 1990
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the Photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Tête-à-Tête, Paris, 2008
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Taste Test - Heimat, Model, traditional dress eating fondue fine art photography
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high-end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the world's most famous and influential photographers. Her artistic achievements have been honored with truly...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Squeeze & Shape from Heimat - nude Model washing herself, fine art photography
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high-end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the world's most famous and influential photographers. Her artistic achievements have been honored with truly...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Church Girls, Heimat - Models in traditional dress, fine art photography, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high-end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the world's most famous and influential photographers. Her artistic achievements have been honored with truly...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Fired Up from Heimat - Nude Model in Apron working, fine art photography, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high-end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the world's most famous and influential photographers. Her artistic achievements have been honored with truly...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Spill - Models in a kitchen cleaning the floor, fine art photography, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bubbly
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Ed. 2/3, signed, titled, dated, numbered in ink. Includes black frame.
Ellen von Unwerth is a director and photographer who started out working as a fashion model. She was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and began modeling at the age of 20. After being noticed by a photographer on the street, she moved to Paris to begin a career as a fashion model. During her years as a model, she started to feel that the industry was missing an element of freedom.
After receiving a camera as a gift from her boyfriend, she began to take her own pictures, which eventually led to an improvised photo-shoot in Africa of her model colleagues. Von Unwerth developed a passion for photography after seeing the published photos of her colleagues. She became famous for her work when she was hired by Guess to shoot an up-and-coming model named Claudia Shchiffer. This photo-shoot created a huge demand for her services in the industry. Since then, von Unwerth has gone on to photograph numerous celebrities and entertainers and has worked for leading magazines like Vogue, Interview, Vanity Fair, The Face, L’Uomo Vogue...
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Thirsty - Milk dripping out of a Model's Mouth, b&w fine art photography, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tête-à-tête, VOGUE Gioiello
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Shalom Harlow in John Galliano
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
I Did It My Way
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Luma Grothe for Vogue Brasil - nude model swimming underwater in blue sea
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Nude of Luma Grothe in crystal clear turquoise water, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth for Brazil Vogue in 2015. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-en...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Gaga Incognito
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Adriana Lima Wicked - the supermodel naked with halo and silk gloves
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful black & white fine art print of topmodel Adriana Lima with a cat. The Victoria's Secret star is posing from behind in sexy lingerie and black hi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Milla Jovovich - the actress with devil horns and hand with gloves in b&w
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Follow Me, Paris, 2004
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Edition of 15
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Madonna - the superstar with tights dresses as a bunny, before a gold curtain
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bunny on Leash - models in dessous with bunny ears and stockings
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Playboy Bunny - model with mask
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Playboy Bunnies, NYC - Models in front of a mirror, Fine Art Photography, 1995
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Black and white photograph of two Models in Playboy Bunny costumes standing in front of a mirror, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth in 1995. All prints are limited edition. Available...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bunny on pedestal - nude model with bunny ears
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Bunny on a pedestal from the Story of Ola by Ellen von Unwerth. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and sign...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
White Bunny II - model looking in the mirror, Fine Art Photography
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
White Bunny - Model with crystalised bunny Mask, b&w fine art photography, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
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 certifica...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Peeking Bunny - model with bunny mask through door, fine art photography, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
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 certifica...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pamela Anderson - in a playboy bunny costume, fine art photography, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
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 certifica...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pamela Anderson - the superstar in a bunny outfit and sexy pose
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the world. Her artistic achievements have been honored with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tree of Love - Nude in a Heart Shaped Tree Trunk, Fine Art Photography, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
A Nude Model cuddles into a hollow Tree Trunk in the shape of a heart, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth in 2015 for her Heimat Series. All prints are limited edition. Available in m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Look - supermodel Claudia Schiffer with a cigarette
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
The Look - supermodel Claudia Schiffer with a cigarette Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and influential photographers in the ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tree of Love
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
With her HEIMAT series, Ellen von Unwerth gives small insights into her childhood homeland of Bavaria. Amid stunning scenery and charming traditions - her signature style of photogra...
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Brooming
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
With her HEIMAT series, Ellen von Unwerth gives small insights into her childhood homeland of Bavaria. Amid stunning scenery and charming traditions - her signature style of photogra...
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Distant View
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
With her HEIMAT series, Ellen von Unwerth gives small insights into her childhood homeland of Bavaria. Amid stunning scenery and charming traditions - her signature style of photogra...
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Guess’ 30th Anniversary Campaign III
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
“Claudia symbolizes everything that the Guess-woman stands for,” stated Paul Marciano when doing the anniversary photo shoot for GUESS. “Thanks to her timeless, highly personal style...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Guess’ 30th Anniversary Campaign II
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
“Claudia symbolizes everything that the Guess-woman stands for,” stated Paul Marciano when doing the anniversary photo shoot for GUESS. “Thanks to her timeless, highly personal style...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Guess' 30th Anniversary Campaign I
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
“Claudia symbolizes everything that the Guess-woman stands for,” stated Paul Marciano when doing the anniversary photo shoot for GUESS. “Thanks to her timeless, highly personal style...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Claudia Schiffer: Guess’ 30th Anniversary Campaign
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
“Claudia symbolizes everything that the Guess-woman stands for,” stated Paul Marciano when doing the anniversary photo shoot for GUESS. “Thanks to her timeless, highly personal style...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Deep Down in Chinatown, New York
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Fuji Crystal Archival Print.
Signed by the photographer.
Additional sizes may be available upon request.
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Price Upon Request
Filmstar Monica Bellucci in a small black dress with a man in a bathroom
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Filmstar Monica Bellucci in a bathroom with a small black dress on and curlers in her hair Other sizes and high end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous an...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Monica Bellucci, New York - the filmstar opening her bustier with a necklace on
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Monica Bellucci, New York - the filmstar opening her bustier with a cross necklace on Other sizes and high-end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most famous and inf...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sangria - two models taking a bath with strawberries, fine art photography, 2010
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Sangria - two nude models taking a bath with strawberries. A fantastic artwork by Ellen von Unwerth available in a limited edition of 15 made and signed by Ellen von Unwerth. All pri...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Claudia Schiffer - portrait of the supermodel looking like Brigitte Bardot
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer in corset in Brigitte Bardot style. The artwork is framed high-end with a black wooden box, mat and 99% UV-resistant acrylic glass. It is made and signed ...
Category
1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Kiss me Quick, Paris – Bedazzled, Supermodel Lindsey Wixson
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Kiss me Quick, Paris – Bedazzled, Supermodel Lindsey Wixson This artwork is made and signed by the artist in a strictly limited edition of 3. It is framed high-end with a black hardw...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie and Kate Moss - portrait of the icons of music and fashion
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
David Bowie and Kate Moss - portrait of the icons of music and fashion Legendary portrait of the supermodel Kate Moss and music superstar David Bowie together The artwork is made and...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie and Kate Moss - portrait of the famous pop star with the supermodel
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Available in multiple sizes. All prints are limited edition. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and singed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certifica...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Booh!, New York (Metrograph Cinema)
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
C Print
Price Upon Request
Bye Bye Paris, Paris
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
C Print
Price Upon Request
Bonheur (Happiness), Nice
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Bubbly II, Paris
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
C Print
Price Upon Request
Choker, Prague
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
C Print
Price Upon Request
Dog Walkers, Cannes
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Madonna - portrait of the star and icon of music
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Vienna, AT
Madonna - portrait of the star and icon of music The artwork is made and signed by the artist in a limited edition of 3. It is framed high-end in a black hardwood box with 99% UV-res...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Ellen Von Unwerth art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Ellen von Unwerth 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 orange, red, pink and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ellen von Unwerth in archival pigment print, pigment print, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Ellen von Unwerth art, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Frank Schott, Joachim Schmeisser, and Axel Crieger.