Artists

Bettina Rheims, born in 1952 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, is a renowned contemporary photographer known for her diverse body of work. Initially, she worked as a model and journalist before transitioning to photography in her late twenties. Her work, often infused with the glamour of fashion photography, spans various genres, including religious and erotic subjects. Her series INRI (1999) reimagines biblical scenes with fashion models, while Chambre Close (1994), in collaboration with Serge Bramly, presents unconventional nudes accompanied by a fictional narrative. Rheims gained early recognition with her portraits of strip-tease artists and acrobats, leading to a solo exhibition at the Pompidou Centre in 1981. Her extensive career also includes high-profile fashion and celebrity portraits for magazines like Elle and Paris Match, and advertising campaigns for brands such as Chanel and Lancôme. Awarded the Grand Prix de la Photographie de la Ville de Paris in 1994 and named Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2002, Rheims has exhibited at major institutions including the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and Kunsthal, Rotterdam.