Kurt Markus Art
American, 1947-2022
Like the cowboys who were often the focus of his work, Kurt Markus’s photographs are imbued with a quiet strength. The acclaimed contemporary American lensman was universally known for his poignant black and white images, each one an intimate glimpse into the lives of their subjects.
Markus was born in 1947 in Whitefish, which is in rural Montana. Though his early childhood was spent outside, he knew that he didn't want to be a rancher. He attended the United States military academy West Point and served in the Army Rangers, but he realized the military was also not for him. Instead, he taught himself photography and fell in love with the craft.
Markus is best known for his moving photography of American cowboys. One of his books of cowboy photography, Cowpuncher, was named the best art book of the year by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2002. Markus also trained his lens on the sport of boxing, photographing world champions like Mike Tyson in addition to lesser-known competitors all around the world, from Havana to Dublin.
Markus was a successful and distinguished fashion photographer as well, working with publications like GQ, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Elle, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. His long list of clients included the names Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne and Armani. One of the most influential images of his career, Young Man, Y’s for Living, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1988, was initially used in a fashion advertisement for Japanese design icon Yohji Yamamoto.
No matter what he was photographing, Markus was resolutely traditional in his technique. Even as digital photography became more common, he remained in the darkroom developing silver gelatin prints. He strove to keep the process simple and free of gimmickry.
Markus received numerous accolades over the course of his career, including Life magazine’s Alfred Eisenstaedt Award and several Clio Awards. His work has been exhibited at the Staley-Wise Gallery in New York City, the Obscura Gallery in Santa Fe and the Peter Fetterman Gallery in Santa Monica.
In 2013, Markus settled with his wife in Santa Fe, where he focused more on landscape photography. He died in 2022.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Kurt Markus photography.
to
79
1
3
13
51
29
31
43
2
1
3
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
1
55
38
36
27
21
18
18
16
15
15
13
11
9
8
7
7
6
5
5
5
53
27
28
10
80
6,847
3,168
2,517
1,217
76
4
4
Artist: Kurt Markus
Christy Turlington
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Christy Turlington, 1994. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Christy Turlington, El Salvador
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Christy Turlington, El Salvador, 1998. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Olga and the Cowboys Little Bear Ranch, Montana
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Olga and the Cowboys Little Bear Ranch, Montana, 1994. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Olga and the Cowboys Little Bear Ranch, Montana
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Olga and the Cowboys Little Bear Ranch, Montana, 1994. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Cindy Crawford, Kay Madden, New York City
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Cindy Crawford, Kay Madden, New York City, 1991. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
ZX Ranch, Paisley, Oregon
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, ZX Ranch, Paisley, Oregon, 1981. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
White Horse Ranch, Fields, Oregon
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, White Horse Ranch, Fields, OR, 1984. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
OO Ranch, Seligman, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, OO Ranch, Seligman, Arizona, 1983. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Dunes, Namibia, Africa, 2002. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Bert Anlell, Bell Ranch, New Mexico
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Bert Anlell, Bell Ranch, New Mexico, 1983. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Dunes, Namibia, Africa, 2002. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Tim McGinnis, 25 Ranch Battle Mountain, Nevada
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Tim McGinnis, 25 Ranch Battle Mountain, Nevada, 1986. gelatin silver print Signed print recto.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Batwings, Oro Ranch, Prescott, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Kurt Markus, American (1947)
Batwings, Oro Ranch, Prescott, Arizona
Archival Pigment Print, Edition of 300, # 149, Signed and numbered. Framed.
Measurements: Frame: H 57.15 cm/22.5 in x W 45.72 cm/18.5 in - Sight H 33.02 cm/13.5 in x W 25.4 cm/10.5 in
Kurt Markus, self-taught American photographer, was born in rural Montana. Markus is a nationally and internationally published photographer. Markus’s work began with a focus on American West Cowboys...
Category
1980s Contemporary Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Y's for Living, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1988
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the recto and verso
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rygh Westby, Sheridan, Wyoming
By Kurt Markus
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Kurt Markus, Rygh Westby, Sheridan, Wyoming, 1983. silver gelatin print [from the cowboys monographs]
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
For Bogner, New York
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Kurt Markus, For Bogner, New York, 1993
Category
1990s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Kirsten Owen, VOGUE Paris, Los Angeles
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Kurt Markus, Kirsten Owen, VOGUE Paris, Los Angeles, 1989
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
OO Ranch, Seligman, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dave Zeller, Tuscarora, Nevada
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Brian Thomas, Oro Ranch, Prescott, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Zx Ranch, Paisley, OR
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
YP Ranch, Tuscarora, Nevada
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
YP Ranch, Tuscarora, Nevada
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Y's For Living, Nebraska
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Women In White Dresses
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
White House Ranch, Fiezos, Oregon
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Wallé, New York, NY
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1990s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Two Women
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Late 20th Century Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Stanley Stenart, Y's For Living, Vicksburg, Mississippi
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Tim McGinnis, 25 Ranch, Battle Mountain, NV
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rod Turner, Y's for Living, Vicksburg, Mississippi
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Pat's City Bar, Mosquero, New Mexico
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Oro Ranch, Prescott, AZ
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Oro Ranch, Prescott, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Oro Ranch, Prescott, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Oro Ranch, Prescott, Arizona
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Olga, Mike Bruman, Tom Sanders, Joker Lebrun, Montana
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1990s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Monument Valley, Utah
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
2010s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Monument Valley, Utah
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mabel Peterson, Y's For Living, Vicksburg, Mississippi
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
John Aquiso, Big Springs Ranch, Bruneau, Idaho
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Il Ranch, Nevada
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1980s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dunes, Namibia, Africa
By Kurt Markus
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is signed by the photographer. Please see additional editions listed below. Larger sizes may be available upon request.
Category
Early 2000s Kurt Markus Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Kurt Markus art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Kurt Markus art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Kurt Markus in silver gelatin print, archival pigment print, pigment 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 Kurt Markus art, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Lynn Goldsmith, Indira Cesarine, and Brett Weston. Kurt Markus art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,647 and tops out at $8,000, while the average work can sell for $6,000.