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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
$5,500
H 47 in W 35 in D 0.2 in
Haute Couture - Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer at Versace Fashion
By Bruno Bisang
Located in New York City, NY
Haute Couture - Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer at Versace
Archival Pigment
$9,800
H 40 in W 60 in D 2 in
Reverentia, Netherlands, Horse Portrait, Equine Beauty
By Raphael Macek
Located in New York City, NY
The photographic work of Raphael Macek offers profound meditation on the timeless bond between humans and horses. With exceptional sensitivity, Macek captures the equine form as both...
Plexiglass, Archival Pigment
"Fiat #10", France, 2015
By Bill Phelps
Located in Hudson, NY
Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition of 25. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is produced...
Archival Pigment
Funk Body #30
Located in New York City, NY
100 x 150cm (40 x 60 inches) Edition of 4 Funk Body series by Vincent Rosenblatt Archival Pigment Print Mounted and Framed
Archival Pigment
Pink Legs II
By Leandro Franco
Located in New York City, NY
Leandro Franco Pink Legs II, 2020 48 x 40 inches 120 x 100 cm Archival Pigment Print Edition of 13 UnFramed Fashion Photography - Portrait - Black and white
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Haute Couture - Yasmeen Ghauri at Christian Lacroix
By Bruno Bisang
Located in New York City, NY
Haute Couture - Yasmeen Ghauri at Christian Lacroix
Archival Pigment
$15,000
H 44 in W 44 in
Andy Warhol and His Corsets at the Fourth Factory, New York, 1986
By Jonathan Becker
Located in New York, NY
Andy Warhol and his corsets at the fourth factory, New York, 1986 "Andy had to wear corsets ever after he was shot in the abdomen. The ever-devoted Brigid "Polk" Berlin dyed them f...
Archival Pigment
Immersion - Horse Photography - Portrait
By Raphael Macek
Located in New York City, NY
Equestrian Beauty series: The legendary and complex relationship between humans and horses is an enduring one. The horse’s distinctive blend of grace and strength and its sleek beau...
Archival Pigment, Plexiglass
$5,500
H 47 in W 35 in D 0.2 in
Haute Couture - Karen Mulder at Christian Lacroix II
By Bruno Bisang
Located in New York City, NY
Haute Couture - Karen Mulder at Christian Lacroix II
Archival Pigment
"Untitled #17", Linas, France, 2015
By Bill Phelps
Located in Hudson, NY
Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition of 25. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is produced...
Archival Pigment
Untitled #7
By Bill Phelps
Located in Hudson, NY
Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition of 15. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is prod...
Archival Pigment
Cabbage Woman/Sally in Cabbage Study #1
By Lindsay Morris
Located in Hudson, NY
Portrait, Women, Food, Color, cabbage, vegetable, photography, color, women, Lindsay Morris Color Edition 2 of 30 Additional Sizes Available: 11"x14", 20"x24", 30"x40" Custom Mura...
Archival Pigment
Sold
H 62.99 in W 94.4 in D 0.1 in
Francisco and Mariette, From Ibiza Series, Diptych
By Mikael Kenta
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Francisco and Mariette, Diptych From the "Ibiza" Series Archival Pigment Print with a 1.57-inch white border. Individual Image size: 62.99 in. H x 47.24 in. W Overal size: 62.99 in. ...
Black and White, Archival Pigment