Biography

Bettina Rheims was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris in 1952 and worked as a model in her youth. In 1978, she began taking photographs, and her first models were Parisian strippers. Since then, the theme of the female body in erotic and voyeuristic situations has pervaded her entire oeuvre. She works for fashion magazines, record labels, and advertizing agencies, has photographed Madonna, Claudia Schiffer, and Milla Jovovitch, and she discovered Kate Moss. In 1987, she filmed the video to “Voyage, Voyage” by Desireless. In addition to working on commissions, Bettina Rheims also pursues independent artistic projects. Her first book of photographs appeared in 1991 under the title “Female Trouble”. She attained international recognition in 1992 with the publication “Chambre Close”. In 1995, Bettina Rheims received the commission to photograph the new President of France, Jacques Chirac, for his official portrait. In 1999, working together with writer Serge Bramly, she produced the series “I.N.R.I.”, in which scenes from the life of Christ are re-enacted in a psychiatric institution. Further publications include “Shanghai” (2003) and “More Trouble” (2004).