CULTURE

Martin Schoeller: Portraits

by Sarah Leon

Lil' Kim photographed by Martin Schoeller

German-born, New York-based photographer Martin Schoeller has taken iconic photographs of both celebrities (such as Brad Pitt, Jay Z, and Meryl Streep) and anonymous normals over the course of his multi-decade career. So it’s no surprise that a third book of his work highlights his iconic portraits. Scholler is best known for his striking close-ups, like the shots of Lil’ Kim, George Clooney and Steve Carell included in the book. But Martin Scholler: Portraits ($125, teNeues.com) also features some wider-range shots, such as a candid moment between actors Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and a cinematic photo of artist Marina Abramovic surrounded by nudes on a subway car. All of the images, says artist Jeff Koons, a frequent subject of Schoeller’s, are remarkably personal. “Martin’s portraits capture the character of the individual and the purity of the moment,” he writes in the book’s forward. “One feels not confronted by the subjects on the pages; instead, one shares an honest moment with each individual and embraces the truthfulness that Martin presents in each portrait.”

1

George Clooney and Brad Pitt photographed by Martin Schoeller.

2

Jay Z photographed by Martin Schoeller.

3

Steve Carell photographed by Martin Schoeller.

4

Marina Abramovic photographed by Martin Schoeller.

5

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger photographed by Martin Schoeller.

6

Sean Combs photographed by Martin Schoeller.

7

Lil’ Kim photographed by Martin Schoeller.

8

Tony Hawk photographed by Martin Schoeller.

9

Cesar Millan photographed by Martin Schoeller.

10

Martin Schoeller: Portraits