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Herb Ritts Art

American, 1952-2000

Herb Ritts Jr. fashioned himself into one of the top photographers to emerge from the 1980s.

Ritts's aesthetic incorporated facets of life in and around Los Angeles. He often made use of the bright California sunlight to produce bold contrasts, and his preference for outdoor locations such as the desert and the beach helped to separate his photography from that of his New York-based peers.

Ritts's intimate portraiture, his modern yet classical treatment of the nude, and his innovative approach to fashion brought him international acclaim and placed him securely within an American tradition of portrait and magazine photography that includes Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe and Irving Penn.

From the late 1970s until Ritts's untimely death from AIDS-related complications in 2002, his ability to create images that successfully bridged the gap between art and commerce was not only a testament to the power of his imagination and technical skill, but also marked the synergistic union between art, popular culture and business that followed in the wake of the Pop art movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Find original Herb Ritts Jr. photography on 1stDibs.

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Kate Moss 1993, Paradise Island Bahamas, Original Print Custom Framed
By Herb Ritts
Located in London, GB
For the 1994 Pirelli Calendar shot on the Paradise Island in the Bahamas, photographer Herb Ritts set out to capture in a series of nudes what he called “the gentle innocence” of Kat...
Category

1990s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print

Karen Alexander 'In Fishing Net', Pirelli session at Paradise Island, Bahamas
By Herb Ritts
Located in London, GB
Karen Alexander broke ground as a black model in the 1980s and 1990s and is sometimes known as “the other supermodel”. "Natural beauty and refined elegance of Karen Alexander" Ritt...
Category

1990s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Color, Photographic Paper, Archival Paper, Photographic Film

Kate Moss, 1993 - For Pirelli 1994 , Paradise Island, Bahamas 'Nude with pearls'
By Herb Ritts
Located in London, GB
For the 1994 Pirelli Calendar shot in the Bahamas, photographer Herb Ritts set out to capture in a series of nudes what he called “the gentle innocence” of Kate Moss, who was then ju...
Category

1990s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color

Kate Moss, 1993 - Nude for Pirelli 1994, Paradise Island, Bahamas
By Herb Ritts
Located in London, GB
This is an original unsigned print for selection to the 1994 Pirelli Calendar, shot by Herb Ritts. Certificate of Authenticity and provenance will be provided. It's a very rare and ...
Category

1990s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color

Set of 4 Herb & Shirley Ritts Iron, Bamboo & Suede Dining Side Chairs, 1950s
By Shirley Ritts, Herb Ritts
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Set of Four Herbert and Shirley Ritts Wroughtan Inc. Wrought Iron, Leather & Bamboo Dining Side Chairs. Featuring a sturdy black enameled wrought iron framework, ergonomic curved st...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage "Pictures" Book by Herb Ritts
By Herb Ritts
Located in San Diego, CA
The quintessential distillation of American Pop culture in the eighties, "Pictures" by Herb Ritts, circa 1988. The book is in very good vintage condition and measures 11.25" x 14.5". A must have! #4282 Herb Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits in the style of classical Greek sculpture. Consequently some of his more famous pieces are of male and female nudes in what can be called glamour photography. Ritts was born in Los Angeles, California to a prosperous family. His parents, Herb and Shirley Ritts, owned a successful furniture business. He received an economics degree from Bard College in upstate New York in 1974 and soon after returned to Los Angeles to work as a sales representative for his family's business. He came out as gay to his parents while in college; they were accepting and supportive. However, Ritts started taking night classes in photography and decided to dedicate himself to the art in the late 1970s. His first break into the business occurred as a result of taking portraits of his actor friend Richard Gere. These photos gained national exposure on the covers of many magazines. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he worked with magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue on portraits of famous people and artistic photos of models. Subjects of his black-and-white celebrity portraits included Kofi Annan, Cindy Crawford, Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama), Madonna, Jack Nicholson and Elizabeth Taylor. In 1981, Ritts took photos for the album cover of Olivia Newton-John's Physical. He started his long term collaboration with Madonna in 1984, when he shot the ad for her movie Desperately Seeking Susan. In 1984, he photographed Eagles drummer and vocalist Don Henley for his second solo album Building the Perfect Beast. In 1986, Ritts shot the cover photo of Madonna's True Blue album. He later ventured into the world of music video at a suggestion of Madonna and filmed her video "Cherish". In 1988, he photographed Steve Winwood for his Roll With It album. In 1989, he photographed Belinda Carlisle...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Paper

Stellar pair of Herb Ritts Lucite Bookends
By Herb Ritts
Located in Evanston, IL
Enhance your pace with these exquisite lucite bookends, crafted by Herbert and Shirley Ritts, parents of famed photographer Herb Ritts. Their sleek, minimalist design adds a touch o...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Lucite, Bentwood

Untitled - Woman's Back In Bikini Bottom At Beach
By Herb Ritts
Located in Carmel, CA
Unsigned. Authenticated original Herb Ritts Print Notations on Verso Silver Gelatin Photograph Over Matted In Corners
Category

1980s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Karen Alexander 'Caught in Fishing Net...', Pirelli session at Paradise Island
By Herb Ritts
Located in London, GB
Karen Alexander broke ground as a black model in the 1980s and 1990s and is sometimes known as “the other supermodel”. Natural beauty Ritts wanted the 1994 Pirelli Calendar to be “mo...
Category

1990s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color

Helena Christensen, 1993 - Pirelli 1994 (July), Paradise Island, Bahamas
By Herb Ritts
Located in London, GB
Photographer Herb Ritts was pivotal in launching the career of Danish model Helena Christensen in the early 1990s. Working together on the 1994 Pirelli Cal resulted in this beach por...
Category

1990s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Color, Photographic Paper, Photographic Film

Mid-Century Ritts Astrolite Modern Lucite Bookends, a Pair
By Herb Ritts
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Fabulous modernist lucite bookends by Ritts Astrolite.
Category

Mid-20th Century Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Lucite

Pair of MCM Triangle Lucite Bookends with Spirals by Herb Ritts for Astrolite
By Herb Ritts, Astrolite
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool pair of MCM triangle lucite bookends with spiral design by Herb Ritts for Astrolite, circa 1970s. The pair are in very good vintage condition and measure 11.5"W x 2"D x 5...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Lucite

Pair of Midcentury Lucite Bookends by Herb Ritts for Astrolite
By Astrolite, Herb Ritts
Located in San Diego, CA
A gorgeous air of midcentury Lucite bookends by Herb Ritts for Astrolite, circa 1970s. The pair are in excellent condition and would make a great addition to any midcentury study or ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Lucite

Editioned Photograph Jack Nicholson IV, London by Herb Ritts
By Herb Ritts
Located in Atlanta, GA
A framed black and white editioned photograph by American photographer Herb Ritts (1952–2002) dated to 1988. Entitled "Jack Nicholson IV, London", the work is one of the four iconic ...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

California Modern Herbert Ritts for Astrolite Clear Lucite "Twist" Table Lamp
By Herb Ritts, Astrolite
Located in Bainbridge, NY
California Modern Transparent Helix Lucite Table Lamp by Herbert Ritts Inc. Los Angeles, California Astrolite Products, 1970's. Featuring an elevate...
Category

1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Midcentury Lucite Bookends by Herb Ritts for Astrolite
By Astrolite, Herb Ritts
Located in San Diego, CA
A gorgeous pair of mid-century lucite bookends by Herb Ritts for Astrolite, circa 1970s. The pair are in excellent condition and would make a great addition to any midcentury study o...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Lucite

Vintage Herb Ritts Mid-Century Lucite Sculpture
By Herb Ritts
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Made of thick Lucite and shaped organically into a center piece or serving bowl resting on a flattened area on the bottom this bowl is attributed to the Ritts Company of Los Angeles ...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Lucite

Richard Gere, San Bernardino
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category

1970s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Male Nude
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the verso
Category

1980s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Male Nude
Price Upon Request
Fred with Tires, Hollywood
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category

1980s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Bruce Springsteen, Detail II, New York
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Estate Stamped on the verso Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Category

Late 20th Century Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

His Holiness The Dalai Lama (Hand), New York City
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the verso Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Category

Late 20th Century Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Jack Nicholson I, London
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the verso Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Category

Late 20th Century Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Prince, Hat with Chains, Minneapolis
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the verso Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Category

Late 20th Century Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Cher, Hollywood
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Estate Stamped on the verso Please inquire about additional limited sizes and editions
Category

Late 20th Century Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Consuelo with Pine Branch, Paradise Cove, 1984
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Estate Stamped Edition 15/25
Category

1980s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Stephano Seated, Milan
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Stephano Seated, Milan 1985 Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, verso; Also blindstamped, l.r. Platinum print (Edition of 25) 22.5 x 17.5 inches (57.2 x 44.5 cm) Conta...
Category

1980s Contemporary Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Platinum

Jack Nicholson I, London
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category

1980s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Antonio Banderas, Malibu
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer.
Category

1990s Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Male Nude with Thorns, Joshua Tree
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Sepia-toned gelatin silver print with matte finish (Edition of 25) Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, verso Also blindstamped, l.r. This artwork is offered by ClampArt,...
Category

1980s Other Art Style Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Waterfall Woman with Sphere, Hollywood
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Category

1980s Other Art Style Herb Ritts Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Herb Ritts art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Herb Ritts art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Herb Ritts in silver gelatin print, paper, photographic paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Herb Ritts art, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jesse Alexander, John Albok, and Henry Grossman. Herb Ritts art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $695 and tops out at $51,000, while the average work can sell for $695.

Artists Similar to Herb Ritts

Questions About Herb Ritts Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Herb Ritts was known for his black and white style of photography. He shot a wide range of celebrities and iconic figures in the 1980s and ‘90s, and his work took inspiration from ancient Greek sculpture styles. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Herb Ritts pieces from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Herb Ritts got into photography because of his friend, the actor Richard Gere. Before Gere became famous, Ritts agreed to take promotional photos of him in front of a classic car. The media widely circulated the photograph, and Ritts became more interested in the art form. You'll find a range of Herb Ritts photographic art on 1stDibs.

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