Sebastian Artz

Sebastian Artz is a Romanian born photographer who specializes in portrait, music and fashion photography; he is best known for his celebrity, magazine and fine art images. He has photographed famous musicians, actors and athletes, including the Beastie Boys, Justin Timberlake, Kevin BaCon, and Miley Cyrus for over ten years. Although, Artz's personal work is mainly still life which includes sharks, octopus, crabs, and underwater life. Artz works for a diverse roster of clients in the US and overseas, while also pursuing personal projects that regularly land him in exhibition galleries. He is known for whimsical yet powerful images and his passion for the art of image-making.

Biography

Childhood

Born in Arad, Romania, Artz attended Ian Slavici Liceu. He relocated to Duesseldorf, Germany in his teens where he went on to complete his Abitur at Goethe Gymnasium.

Education

Artz started his photographic career after a college exchange brought him to UCLA. He briefly worked under the director Marcus Nispel, but it was the recognition he received for his photography that solidified his decision to work with still images.

Technique

Artz is known for his compositions that capture movement. Artz commented on his compositions during an interview with Photo District News, "These are the moments I shoot for. I’m trying to anticipate and set the stage for it, and this is something that comes with experience. The interesting thing about commercial portraiture is that photographer and subjects both have an agenda. The photographer wants a great shot that fits into her/his aesthetics while the subject would like to convey a certain image. Skillfully tapping into these sometimes-conflicting agendas can create an eye-catching visual."

Awards & Exhibitions

Artz is an award-winning photographer who most recently was featured on the cover of PDN magazine’s Portrait Guide (July 2011).

His work has been exhibited in multiple galleries, including:

  • NME , London 2005
  • Epoxybox, Venice 2006
  • Creative Underground, Los Angeles 2007
  • Create:Fixate, Los Angeles 2009
  • G2 Gallery, Venice 2009
  • 16th LA Art Show, Los Angeles 2011
  • G2 Gallery, Venice 2011