Jimmy Nelson

British, b. 1967

Over the course of a prolific career that has spanned more than 30 years, artist Jimmy Nelson has captured profound and enduring images of the world’s most remote tribes and indigenous peoples. His rich color photography, portraits and landscapes seek to tell the stories of many diverse cultures and explore the impact of the modern age on their traditions and life.

Nelson was born in 1967 in Sevenoaks, Kent, and spent his early childhood traveling the world with his father, a geologist. At the age of seven, Nelson was sent to a Jesuit boarding school in the North of England, where he spent the next ten years of his life.

Nelson journeyed to Tibet in his late teens — he had lost all of his hair owing to an autoimmune disorder and thought that the Tibetan monks might be more accepting of his appearance than his affluent British classmates were. The year-long trip afforded him the opportunity to photograph the East Asian region, which had only recently opened its borders to foreigners. In 1988, Nelson’s images were published in several worldwide publications, garnering international acclaim. He secured assignments to cover a range of world events as a photojournalist — among them, Russia’s involvement with Afghanistan and the war in former Yugoslavia.

In 1994, Nelson and his wife, Ashkaine, embarked on an ambitious project titled “Literary Portraits of China,” which captured images of what were then the country’s lesser seen corners. It took 40 months to complete, and his photos were later exhibited at the People’s Palace in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

Later, Nelson traveled the globe to not only document indigenous cultures through his figurative photography but to discover how they were surviving in the contemporary world. This project resulted in his first book, Before They Pass Away. It was published in 2013 and an expanded edition debuted in 2020. The Jimmy Nelson Foundation was established in 2016 in order to raise awareness about the subjects of Nelson’s photography. Homage to Humanity, which features hundreds of photos of indigenous people all over the world, was published in 2018.

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Styles

Contemporary

Materials

C Print

Archival Pigment Print

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Jimmy NelsonJimmy Nelson - Kaisut Desert, Kenya - Signed, 2015

$14,575

H 42.33 in W 0.4 in D 57.88 in

Jimmy Nelson - Kaisut Desert, Kenya - Signed

By Jimmy Nelson

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Jimmy Nelson Nyerere, Loingo, Lewangum & Lepokodou Kaisut Desert, Kenya Chromogenic print on dibond. 80 x 120 cm (107.5 x 147 cm). Signed in felt tip pen as well as detailed notes on the subject and on the edition on an artist's label affixed to the reverse of the mount. Edition 3/6 Framed. Accompanied by photographer's certificate, dated 18.09.2015 Literature: Jimmy Nelson, Before they pass away, Kempen 2013, ill. pp. 218 Jimmy Nelson (Sevenoaks, Kent, 1967) started working as a photographer in 1987. Having spent 10 years at a Jesuit boarding school in the North of England, he set off on his own to traverse the length of Tibet on foot. The journey lasted a year and upon his return his unique visual diary, featuring revealing images of a previously inaccessible Tibet, was published to wide international acclaim. Soon after, he was commissioned to cover a variety of culturally newsworthy themes, ranging from the Russian involvement in Afghanistan and the ongoing strife between India and Pakistan in Kashmir to the beginning of the war in former Yugoslavia. In early 1994 he and his Dutch wife produced Literary Portraits...

Materials

C Print

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Jimmy Nelson art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Jimmy Nelson 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 and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Jimmy Nelson in pigment print, paper, photographic paper 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 Jimmy Nelson art, so small editions measuring 24 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Terry O'Neill, Massimo Listri, and David Burdeny. Jimmy Nelson art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $60,000, while the average work can sell for $5,841.

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