Markus

Klinko

*1961
/
Switzerland

Markus Klinko is an award-winning photographer known for capturing some of the most iconic figures in film, music, and fashion. His work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

He has photographed Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and Naomi Campbell, among others. His editorial clients include Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Harper’s Bazaar, while brands like Lancôme, L’Oréal, Nike, and Hugo Boss have commissioned his work. His campaign for Keep A Child Alive raised over $1 million in just three days.

Born in Switzerland, Klinko trained as a classical harp soloist, studying at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris before signing with EMI Classics. He won the Grand Prix du Disque and performed worldwide before shifting to photography in 1994 after a hand injury.

Discovered by Isabella Blow and Ingrid Sischy, he quickly rose to prominence, shooting David Bowie and Iman before creating iconic album covers such as Dangerously in Love (Beyoncé) and The Emancipation of Mimi (Mariah Carey).

Recognized as one of the most influential photographers of the 2000s, Harper’s Bazaar USA credited him with "single-handedly defining the decade." His work has been featured on E! News, CNN, and Bravo’s Double Exposure.

Special
events

Hollywood Beauty Awards

|

Outstanding Achievement in Photography

,

2024

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At the 2024 Hollywood Beauty Awards, Markus Klinko received the Outstanding Achievement in Photography award, presented by actress Jaime King. The honor recognizes his lasting impact on celebrity portraiture and fashion photography, celebrating a career that helped shape the visual language of pop culture in the 2000s.

Ice Spice

|

Paper Magazine

,

2023

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Shot for Paper Magazine’s cover and feature, Klinko’s image of Ice Spice became one of the defining visuals of her breakout year. The photo quickly went viral across social and editorial platforms, becoming emblematic of her rise. With catchy drill-influenced tracks and bold style, she captured the attention of a new generation.

Versace

|

Cube Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium

,

2022

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Cube Art Fair partnered with Versace to showcase Markus Klinko’s photography at Versace’s flagship store in Brussels. The exhibition featured over 30 iconic portraits of celebrities, displayed in both physical and digital formats. The collaboration celebrated the fearless style and creative DNA that define both Versace and Klinko’s work.

Double Exposure

|

Bravo

,

2010

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In 2010, Markus Klinko and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri starred in the Bravo docu-series Double Exposure, offering an intimate look into their high-pressure world of celebrity photography. The show followed the duo as they worked with A-list clients, revealing the creative process behind iconic images and the challenges of working in fast-paced entertainment photography.

Mariah Carey

|

The Emancipation of Mimi

,

2005

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Mariah Carey’s 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi marked a major comeback with hit singles like “We Belong Together.” Photographer Markus Klinko captured her renewed confidence, including a moment when she cut her dress to reveal more leg, which became a memorable part of the album’s visual campaign.

Britney Spears

|

Onyx Tour promotional pictures

,

2004

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For her Onyx Hotel Tour, Britney Spears collaborated closely with photographer Markus Klinko to develop the promotional imagery, sketching ideas like “enchanted forests” and “ice princesses.” The resulting imagery became the best-selling tour merchandise campaign by a female artist and was licensed across major platforms, including Vanity Fair and Elizabeth Arden.

Beyoncé

|

Dangerously in Love

,

2003

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Beyoncé’s cover for her debut album Dangerously in Love became one of the most iconic images of the early-2000s. Shot by Markus Klinko, the look came together mid-shoot when Beyoncé borrowed his Dolce & Gabbana jeans to pair with a crystal-studded top. The spontaneous styling created the now-legendary combination that marked her emergence as a solo superstar.

David Bowie

|

Heathen

,

2002

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Markus Klinko’s photographs for David Bowie’s Heathen captured the artist at a moment of creative reinvention. Praised by Vanity Fair for their surreal, cinematic quality, the images became emblematic of the album's introspective mood, which explored themes of mortality, faith, and identity.

About

Markus

Klinko

Name

Retna

Lorem ipsum

2022

Example

Photographer

Year of Example

1988

Ipsum

23

Art fairs

2022

|

Versace

,

Cube Art Fair

,

Brussels

,

Belgium

2022

|

Cube Art Fair

,

Versace

,

Brussels

,

Belgium

Books + Press

2023

|

Ice Spice

,

Paper Magazine

,

,

Clients + collabs

2005

|

The Emancipation of Mimi

,

Mariah Carey

,

,

2004

|

Onyx Tour promotional pictures

,

Britney Spears

,

,

2003

|

Dangerously in Love

,

Beyoncé

,

,

2002

|

Heathen

,

David Bowie

,

,

Awards

2024

|

Outstanding Achievement in Photography

,

Hollywood Beauty Awards

,

Los Angeles

,

USA

Collections

2010

|

Double Exposure

,

Bravo docu-series

,

,

Upcoming
events

Script of the Flame

Los Angeles, CA

5/31/2025
2/7/25
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Markus Klinko Photographs Heidi Montag at Jonathan Club

at Jonathan Club, Los Angeles

5/11/2025
9/5/25
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Peak Inside RETNAs SOS "Sequence of Sentences"

at Gravitas, Beverly Hills

3/13/2025
12/3/25
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The Core Fine Art presents RETNA - SOS

"Sequence of Sentences"

2/17/2025
17/2/25
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A Moment with Bowie at the Jonathan Club

This January 5th 2025, marks what would have been David Bowie’s 78th birthday, a moment to reflect on an artist who continually reshaped the contours of identity and fame. In the sunroom of the Jonathan Club, The Core presents two photography of Bowie by Markus Klinko: “Smoking” and “Meditation,” each of which offers a different facet of the artist’s complex persona.

2/1/2025
13/2/25
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The Core Fine Art presents "DISCOVERING MR. BRAINWASH"

at the Jonathan Club

10/7/2024
6/10/24
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The Core Fine Art x The Vanderpump Dog Foundation

Vanderpump Dog Gala at the Maybourne Beverly Hills Hotel

11/15/2024
29/7/24
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The Core Fine Art x Jonathan Club, Los Angeles

DISCOVERING MR. BRAINWASH

8/17/2024
29/7/24
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The Core Fine Art Grand Opening

The Core Fine Art pioneers a new era of art exhibitions with pop-up showcases in unconventional spaces. From studio warehouses to members clubs, these exhibitions defy the traditional boundaries of white-wall gallery spaces, inviting diverse audiences to experience art in unexpected and thought-provoking ways.

2/5/2024
2/5/24
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The Core Fine Art x We Love Foundation

Weaving Hope: The Core Fine Art’s Donation Illuminates the 2024 We Love Foundation Gala

Grand Opening

Feb 29 - Mar 03

The Core Fine Art x mission:brain

The Core Fine Art and mission:brain unite for Neurosurgical Advancements

The Core Fine Art x Nightbird Studios

Art Meets Music: The Core Fine Art at Nightbird Recording Studios

4/29/2024
2/5/24
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