Richard Kern

Richard Kern is an American photographer and filmmaker who has been active in the art world since the early 1980s. He is best known for his provocative and often controversial images of young women, which often feature nudity or sexual themes.

Kern was born in 1954 in North Carolina and grew up in a small town near Asheville. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied photography and filmmaking. After graduating, he moved to New York City in 1979 and began working as a freelance photographer for magazines such as Details, Spin, and The Face.

Kern's work quickly gained notoriety for its raw, edgy style that pushed boundaries and challenged traditional notions of beauty. His photographs often featured young women in provocative poses or engaged in explicit activities. This style earned him both praise and criticism from the art world.

In addition to his photography, Kern has also directed several short films that have been shown at film festivals around the world. He has also published several books of his photographs, including "The Girl Next Door" (1985), "Flesh & Blood" (1995), "X-Portraits" (1998), and "New York Girls" (2005).

Kern continues to live and work in New York City today, where he continues to push boundaries with his photography and filmmaking. His work has been exhibited widely throughout the United States and Europe, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.