“Claudia had that perfect mix of danger and glamour, leaning back like a true rockstar. The powerful stance and urban backdrop symbolise power, independence and of course a touch of rock and roll. She has an angel face but devil wheels and no one can stop her.”
—Ellen von Unwerth, 2024ULTIMATE ELLEN VON UNWERTH showcases an exclusive selection of 16 unique Polaroids taken by the celebrated photographer Ellen von Unwerth. These Polaroids provide a fun and insightful glimpse into her creative process, capturing defining moments during the supermodel heyday of the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Many of the works were created during editorial assignments for international publications, including Vogue US, Vogue Italia and i-D. This dedicated offering presents von Unwerth as a storyteller who creates narratives that embrace spontaneity, sensuality and joyfulness and features some of the biggest names in fashion, including Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Karen Mulder and Linda Evangelista. These Polaroids – intimate, one-of-a-kind works of art in their own right – acted as visual studies for what became the final published images and hold a special place in von Unwerth’s oeuvre, serving as unique artefacts of analogue photography.
Ellen von Unwerth is one of the most renowned photographers working in fashion today. A model turned photographer, von Unwerth gained worldwide recognition for the now-iconic 1989 Guess campaign that helped to launch the supermodel Claudia Schiffer. A highly sought-after figure, von Unwerth has shot for all the top magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, The Face and i-D, as well as high-profile advertising campaigns for the likes of Guess, Chanel, Dior, Revlon, Victoria’s Secret, and many more. In addition, she has directed commercials for global brands, including Revlon and Clinique, as well as music videos and short films. Von Unwerth is the recipient of numerous awards, notably the 2019 Lucie Award for Achievement in Fashion, and her works have been exhibited worldwide, most recently at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta in 2023. Since 1994, von Unwerth has published nine photobooks to date.
