Biography
A French photographer, publisher, and art director, Jean-Philippe was born in Senegal before moving to France at 16 to study photography. He began his career as an interior design and architecture photographer working for Philippe Starck and Christian Liaigre and then moved to Saint-Barthélemy FWI in 1997.
There in ’97, he began publishing his magazine Pure St. Barth – documenting the unique lifestyle and people of the island which through the years has become the visual reference of the island.
Jean-Philippe is well known also for his portraits of celebrities, underwater series, and art nudes. His work has been published in magazines around the world: Photo, GQ, Vanity Fair, Citizen K, W, Vogue UK, Interiors, Numéro, and Time magazine.
The popular photographer is celebrated for his signature humor and sense of fun which he effortlessly captures in his subjects. He has exhibited in the Caribbean, variously in North America and Europe.
Currently, for the most part, Jean-Philippe shoots his images variously between St. Barth, The Bahamas, and Miami, and the natural beauty of those places plays a big part in the ambiance and beauty of the images he creates. Nature is definitely the second protagonist with each piece celebrating its own muse. The works are fun, playful, and sexy – and always mixed with the artist’s signature humor. Jean-Philippe captures the essence of the women and the soul of the landscapes he photographs. His pieces are cheeky and fun and make you smile – the works are free-spirited and are a fun twist on the classic nude. The pieces, titled after the model in the photograph, reflect the energy depending on the muse – some bring a sexy energy, some fun, some serene or cool and laid back.
Books
The Eye of St-Barth (Pure)
Liaigre 1 (Flammarion)
Liaigre 2 (Flammarion)
Living in Delphi (Assouline)
Starck (Taschen)
Exhibitions
Clic Gallery NYC
Clic St-Barth
Moscow International Art Fair
Avant Gallery Miami
Exhibit A London
Space Gallery St-Barth
Space Gallery, Soho, New York
Opiom Gallery, Opio, France
Christopher Martin Gallery, Houston, US
Avant Gallery, Houston, USA