Steven Klein

Steven Klein is an American photographer and director known for his provocative and often controversial fashion photography. Born in 1965 in New York City, Klein grew up in a creative family, with his father being a painter and his mother a fashion designer. He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he studied photography and film.

Klein began his career as a fashion photographer in the early 1990s, shooting for magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, W Magazine, and Interview. His work is characterized by its boldness and edginess; he often uses strong colors and dramatic lighting to create striking images. He has also directed music videos for artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna.

Klein has collaborated with many of the world's top fashion designers including Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior Homme and Yves Saint Laurent. He has also worked with celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman and Justin Timberlake.

In addition to his commercial work for magazines and designers, Klein has also created several fine art projects including "X-Ray" (2005), "The Garden" (2006), "The Box" (2007) and "The Face" (2008). His work has been exhibited at galleries around the world including the Gagosian Gallery in New York City.

Klein continues to push boundaries with his photography today; he recently released a book titled "Steven Klein: Photographs" which features some of his most iconic images from over the years.