Robert Mapplethorpe
- 1946 - 1989
- Born in 1946, in United States
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946–1989), an American photographer, made his mark in the 1970s and 1980s with his daring black-and-white images, which were characterised by a meticulous attention to light and composition. He developed a powerful aesthetic, notably through his portraits of celebrities, models and his social circle, as well as his provocative nudes.
His most notable collaboration was with Lisa Lyon, the first women’s bodybuilding world champion (1979). Mapplethorpe and Lyon explored the human form together, publishing the book Lady, Lisa Lyon in 1983.
He died in 1989 as a result of AIDS and remains an iconic artist whose work is held in the collections of international museums, and whose legacy continues to influence the art world.
