BIO

Born in Tehran, Ali Mahdavi is one of the most significant artistic talents of our generation. He is an acclaimed fashion photographer, illustrator, artistic director and visual artist and in 2011 was awarded the principal prize at the Grand Prix du Centre du Luxe for his outstanding contribution to the Arts. In 1981, having fled Iran, Mahdavi studied fine art and fashion design in Paris and London before graduating from L’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris. As a young artist, Mahdavi worked with Thierry Mugler on the designers prêt-à-porter and couture collections. At the root of Mahdavi’s creativity is a fascination with the definition of beauty through visual representation. His endless study and intricate understanding of the anatomical physique underpins each element of his work as a visual artist and is one that can be seen most spontaneously and dramatically in his line drawings. Mahdavi has been commissioned to work on illustrative projects for multiple international magazines and brands including the hotel group Mandarin Oriental. Mahdavi was appointed Artistic Director of The Crazy Horse, Paris in 2008, a position that allowed him to collaborate with a long line of guest stars including his long-time muse Dita Von Teese in 2009. As a visionary photographer Mahdavi has worked with magazines including Vogue, Vogue Homme International, Vanity Fair, Numéro, Glamour Italy, Citizen K, I-d Magazine and Dazed and Confused, for the luxury brands Cartier, Christian Louboutin, Cointreau, Dom Perignon, Agent Provocateur and Balmain and has shot celebrity portraits of Tom Ford, Kylie Minogue, Catherine Deneuve, Karl Lagerfeld, Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dita Von Teese, Christian Louboutin and John Galliano. Mahdavi’s work is held in the permanent collections of Maison Européene de la Photographie, Paris, The Design Museum, London and House of World’s Cultures, Berlin. Exhibitions have included Galerie 213 Marion de Beaupré, Paris (2000); Gallery Edward Mitterrand, Geneva (2001); Scout Gallery, London (2003) and Gourvennec Ogor, Marseille (2015). Mahdavi’s work is a master craft in the art of creating atmosphere, tension and extreme beauty through the visual arts whether it be in photography, film, installation, set and costume design or fashion illustration.