Ellen von Unwerth Photography
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.
Find original Ellen von Unwerth photography on 1stDibs.
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Artist: Ellen von Unwerth
Ellen von Unwerth, The Story of Olga Art. Signed Limited Edition Book and Print.
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Edition Book: 13.0 x 17.2 in.
Pigment Print: 15.8 x 11.8 in.
Art Edition limited to 125 copies (numbered 126-250), each with the signed and numbered pigment print by Ellen von Unwerth:
Art Edition B (No. 126-250)
The Widow
From the series The Story of Olga, 2012
40 x 30 cm (15.8 x 11.8 in.)
(Frame not included)
Also available in a second Art Edition (numbered1-125) with an alternative print.
"Olga returns for more lustful adventures with a colorful cast of characters"
Olga is back! After a first foray with Bettina Rheims for the 2008 limited edition smash hit The Book of Olga, now she teams up with Ellen von Unwerth for The Story of Olga, a photographic narrative tracing the journey of a young widow, Olga, who after the death of her wealthy, elderly husband, is overtaken by an insatiable lust. She searches for love only to find it in the arms of an unlikely source, far from the riches and extravagance to which she is accustomed.
It is Olga’s quest that makes this fairy tale highly untraditional: she is a heroine who is not afraid of her lust, and it is her sensuality that leads her to the happy ending she so desires. Set in a glorious château, replete with all the trappings of wealth and glamor, this collaboration between Ellen von Unwerth and Olga Rodionova brings to life the enviable luxury of both fairy tales and modern desire.
The first Olga book...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tete-à-Tete, Bavaria 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in Munich, DE
2 girls in traditional bavarian dresses showing their cleavage.
In "Heimat" (german for homeland) invites viewers on a photographic journey through her childhood homeland of Bavaria...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Revival, from the Story of Olga - nude on pink sofa, fine art photography, 2011
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 certific...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bretzel, Bavaria, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Hands On Deck, Cannes, 2019
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the Photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Carmin, Paris, 2003
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bees Do It, Paris, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Boss Bitch, Berlin, 2011
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
The Pinch, Paris, 2008
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Swanky Panky, New York, 2011
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Danger Kitty!: Zoë Kravitz, New York, 2022
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, 1998
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Games, New York, 2013
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Pigalle, Paris, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Parading, Paris, 2010
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Private Affair, Paris, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Château Marmont, Los Angeles, 2011
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Flush: Elle Macpherson, New York, 2004
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
In The Shower With Rihanna, New York, 2014
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Paint Them Black: Kate Moss, Paris, 1994
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Harp Lesson, Rouilly-Le-Bas, 2011
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Eyes Wide Open, Paris, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Diablo: Cara Delevigne, Los Angeles, 2015
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Queen, New York, 2018
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bird, Los Angeles, 2018
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Guardians, Paris, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Trippy: Amilna Estevao and Alton Mason, New York, 2017
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Nudes at the Royalton, New York, 1992
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
I Do It My Way, New York, 1995
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Playboy Bunnies, New York, 1995
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Jardin du Luxembourg: Deon Bray and Karen Mulder, Paris, 1991
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Legs Crossed: Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista, Cannes, 1990
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Afterparty: Dioni Tabbers and Hana Jirickova, Los Angeles, 2011
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Galliano, Paris, 1993
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfeld, Paris, 1996
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Just Checking: Long Island, 1997
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
David Bowie and Kate Moss, New York, 2003
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Place des Vosges, Paris, 2023
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Second Skin: Anton Thiemke, Milan, 2022
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Fallen Party Angel, Paris, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Invitation Only, Paris, 2007
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Heidi, Kitzbuhel, 2003
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Unmasking: Demi Moore, New York, 1996
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Joy, New York, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
POP Princess, London, 2012
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
2010s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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 Photography
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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.
PREISS FINE ARTS is one of the world’s leading galleries for fine art photography, representing the most...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
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.
PREISS FINE ARTS is one of the world’s leading galleries for fine art photography, representing the most...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
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.
PREISS FINE ARTS is one of the world’s leading galleries for fine art photography, representing the most...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
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.
PREISS FINE ARTS is one of the world’s leading galleries for fine art photography, representing the most...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
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.
PREISS FINE ARTS is one of the world’s leading galleries for fine art photography representing the most ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Photography
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 Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
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 Photography
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Shalom Harlow in John Galliano
By Ellen von Unwerth
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1990s Ellen von Unwerth Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ellen Von Unwerth photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Ellen von Unwerth photography available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of photography 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, blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ellen von Unwerth in pigment print, archival 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 photography, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Frank Schott, Joachim Schmeisser, and Guido Argentini.