Long before he was one of the top male models of the 1990s — appearing in fashion campaigns for Calvin Klein, Versace, Guess? and Roberto Cavalli — Mikael Kenta was a photographer. Today he creates stunning portraits that capture the humanity, strength and character of each of his subjects.
Born in 1972 in Gothenburg, Kenta showed a love of photography at an early age — his father gave him his first camera when he was only seven. In later years, Kenta studied science and graphic design. However, he decided he was more interested in photography and, in his spare time, worked as an assistant to a fashion photographer in Gothenburg.
In 1994, Kenta went to Milan, keen to learn more about fashion and art photography. In an attempt to launch his photographic career, he applied to several fashion agencies — as it turned out, they were more interested in signing Kenta as a model.
During his 15-year modeling career, Kenta gained valuable insight into the world of fashion photography, learning various techniques about posing subjects, lighting and composition — elements that make up much of Kenta’s own photography today.
Although he prefers to work in black and white photography, citing revered American fashion photographer Herb Ritts as an influence, Kenta demonstrates considerable proficiency with color photography — inspired by the “kitsch pop Surrealism” that characterizes the work of American MTV music video director and photographer Dave LaChapelle. This is evident in Kenta’s “Iconic” series featuring works such as Mr. Donut, Kind of Blue and Coke. In 2016, the series was shown at the “Walk of Inspiration” exhibition in Stockholm.
The following year, Kenta spent six months on the island of Ibiza, meeting and photographing several people who made a lasting impression on him. This culminated in a striking series of hyperrealistic black-and-white portraits titled “People from Ibiza.”
Kenta’s contemporary photography continues to garner critical acclaim from art critics and collectors alike, with his works featured in galleries throughout Europe and the United States.
Find original Mikael Kenta photography on 1stDibs.
Francisco From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Pedro and Mariette, From Ibiza Series, Diptych
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Black and White, Archival Pigment
Set From the Ibiza People series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Black and White, Archival Pigment
$33,000
Materia set #15. From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Photographs
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Materia Set #10, From The Materia Series. Abstract Photographs
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Mr Donut, Kind of Blue, and V Triptych. From Iconic Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Color, Archival Pigment
Coke From Iconic Series, Medium Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Archival Pigment, Color
Francisco and Mariette, From Ibiza Series, Diptych
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Ron From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Jesus From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Materia IX, VIII and XII, Triptych, From The Materia Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Set Materia VII, VI, III and V, From The Materia Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Set Materia VII, VIII, IX and I, From The Materia Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Materia II and IV, Diptych, From The Materia Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia XV, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia XI, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
Pedro. From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Jesus 2 From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Mr Donut From Iconic Series, Large Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Archival Pigment, Color
Mariette From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Jesus 2 and Jesus, From Ibiza Series, Diptych
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Black and White, Archival Pigment
Anibal From Ibiza Series, Small Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Gonzalo From Ibiza Series
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Archival Pigment, Black and White
Safari From Iconic Series, Large Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Archival Pigment, Color
Marbella From Iconic Series, Large Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Color, Archival Pigment
Yello. From Iconic Series, Medium Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Color, Archival Pigment
Why Not From Iconic Series, Medium Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Archival Pigment, Color
Kind of Blue From Iconic Series, Medium Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Archival Pigment, Color
V From Iconic Series, Large Size
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The “Iconic” series was presented as part of the exhibition “Walk of Inspiration” showed in Stockholm in 2016. These vibrant unique color images are an homage to the “kitsch pop surr...
Archival Pigment, Color
$2,200
Materia XIV, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia XIII, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia XII, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia X, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia IX, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia VIII, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia VII, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia VI, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia V, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia III, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Archival Pigment, Color
$2,200
Materia IV, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023)by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in ...
Archival Pigment, Color
$2,200
Materia I, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023) by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in...
Color, Archival Pigment
$2,200
Materia II, From The Series Materia, Abstract Limited Edition Color photograph
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The MATERIA series (2023) by Mikael Kenta is an exploration of the fluid boundary between rigid industrial material and the ethereal world of light. Born from an all-night session in...
Color, Archival Pigment
Ron and Mariette, From the Ibiza Series, Diptych
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...
Black and White, Archival Pigment