Karl Lagerfeld (b. 1938, Hamburg) immigrated to Paris with his family in 1952.
Educated at various cosmopolitan institutions and learned in many languages,
Lagerfeld completed his formal studies in Paris. In 1954 he won the first prize
in a contest organized by the International Wool Association, and Lagerfeld's
career in fashion was launched. The coat the young winner designed was produced
by couturier Pierre Balmain, and Lagerfeld became his assistant at the age of 17.
Following numerous positions with designers and substantive experience as an
independent stylist, Lagerfeld launched his own line, "Karl Lagerfeld," in 1984
while continuing his collaboration with Chanel where he was named Art Director
the year before.
Lagerfeld's decision to pursue photography began in 1987 on the occasion of
developing his first press kit. Since that time Lagerfeld has been the primary
creative source behind his advertising campaigns. Lagerfeld's dual passion for
photography and books coincided and transformed his projects into veritable art
objects. He also undertook photo shoots for prestigious fashion magazines.
Lagerfeld's involvement with his private label ended in 1997; one year later he
launched his own design company, "Lagerfeld Gallery," in Paris. Lagerfeld's
photography has been exhibited in France, Germany and Britain in close to 25
gallery shows and 15 museum exhibitions.
Lagerfeld is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1993 Lucky Strike
Design Award from the Raymond Loewy Foundation and the 1996 culture prize awarded
by the German Photographic Society.
In 1999 Lagerfeld opened the bookstore "7L" and founded the publishing company
"Editions 7L" with Gerhard Steidl a year later. Lagerfeld has collaborated with
Steidl on over 25 books of photography and has published one book with Taschen
in 1992. Monographs include Waterdance/Bodywave (2002), Aktstrakt (2003),
and A Portrait of Dorian Gray (2004).
Lagerfeld lives and works in Paris and New York City. |
