Photographs by Antoine Verglas are exhibited at the Hotel Regina Paris until April 15th, 2016.
Nicknamed “the photographer of top models,” Antoine Verglas is known for his sensual pictures and intimate portraits of the most beautiful women on the planet.
Life is a series of fortunate coïncidences, as Antoine Verglas has witnessed. His career began as a business student, until the day he met his girlfriend, Catherine Ahnell, a gorgeous Swedish Ford agency model. Running between the école des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Paris and casting calls, the charming young man began his modeling career. He started out working on commercials for directors such as Claude Miller, and even Serge Gainsbourg promoting the drink Gini. These jobs led to his hosting « 5/5 » a television program for young people filled with video clips, high-energy movie previews and interviews with popular actors and musicians. Today, Antoine is still dazzled by memories of the numerous French and American musicians who appeared on the show- Patrick Bruel, James Brown and actress Sharon Stone – to name a few. As fast as success happens in show business it can also disappear- and yet a short-lived taste of television determined his future. His girlfriend was hired for photo shoots in New York, and Antoine decided to go along. He joined her at the shoots and encountered world famous models, Estelle Lefébure, Monicca Bellucci, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymour, Claudia Schiffer
and Naomi Campbell. He visualized creating a photo reportage on these glamorous women disrobing in uninhibited and candid photos that would answer questions about their habits, their everyday life – jumping out of bed, in the bathroom … No sooner had he finished his project that french Elle magazine gave him 15 pages and the cover Success was immediate – his new concept was huge. Now as a photographer, he was in demand by all the top magazine editors.
Antoine’s career was launched and confirmed. In the words of the great master of photojournalism Henri Cartier-Bresson “photography is an attitude, a way of being, a way of life.” Antoine’s art of living is by taking portraits that capture distinguishing characteristics of the most well known women on earth – Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Elisabeth Hurley, Marion Cotillard and also Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna … all of whom have unveiled their intimate selves in front of his camera lens. His unique style is sought after by the most prestigious fashion publications in the world: Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, Esquire, CQ, Maxim, Sports Illustrated…
The “Frenchy” from New York undoubtedly has a different angle says the photographer Bill Brandt, considered an icon of modern photography. He confides, “Part of the work of a photographer is to see things more intensely than most people. He needs to have and keep a child’s eye, as if he’s seeing the world for the first time.” Antoine’s eve seduced the lingerie company Victoria Secret He has been the photographer of their catalogues and advertising campaigns for many years. While on a shoot in St Barts he discovered the island and fell in love with Christiane Celle. The beautiful brunette was the owner of Calipso, a multibrand ready-to-wear retail store, one of the best in the Carré d’Or in Gustavia. Christiane followed Antoine to New York. Together, the couple opened nearly thirty shops on the east coast of the United States, on St. Barts, in Paris and St Tropez. Since then they have split from Calypso to create Clic Gallery, a concept store with collections of interior decoration and contemporary art books and photography, handcurated accessories and ready-to-wear clothing for the whole family. The couple travels between St Barts and the United States where their two sons, julien and Adrien live, managing three stores, one of them in the Hamptons,
one in Soho, New York and another in Gustavia. As much as Antoine thrives on the frenetic rhythm of his New York shoots, the photographer is aIso adept at the unique way of life in St. Barts, a likely place for unlikely encounters. St Barts is where he signed up to shoot the last three advertising campaigns for the ready-to-wear label Lolita Jaca. Artists have always been drawn to St. Barts. Another famous fashion photographer, Patrick Demarchelier, is also a regular on St. Barts. Antoine has great admiration for Patrick and considers him an idol for French photographers.
Between shooting advertising campaigns for luxurious items and magazine covers, Antoine also spend time on more personnel projects. He has come out with his first book of photos from the 1990’s. He’s editing his second publication with more recent photos – portraits of models, movie stars, musical artists and theatrical actors – which most certainly will also be the object of an upcoming exhibition.
– Cécile Lucot
EXHIBITION
Antoine Verglas
From March 1st to April 15th, 2016
Hotel Regina Paris
2, place des Pyramides
75001 Paris
France
http://www.antoineverglas.com
