CHRISTOPHER MICAUD The Art of Perfection

The Art of Perfection CHRISTOPHER MICAUD

By Hillary Latos

If a picture speaks 1,000 words, Christopher Micaud’s iconic photography would present a novella. Best known for his beauty and fashion photography, Micaud’s 30-year career is reflected in his editorial and advertising work, commissioned for clients such as Vogue, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, MAC cosmetics, L’Oréal and Dior.

He has an innate ability to make the ordinary special, and the extraordinary breathtaking. His work is equally appealing for both artistic and commercial usages, his imagery leaves a lasting impression on viewers. A highly defined sense of aesthetic in both style and composition is noticeable in his work, and he is sought-after for his timeless innate sense of style and his mastery of lighting.

Of Danish and French descent, he spent much of his life in Europe and North Africa. He learned the art of observation from his grandfather, an avid amateur photographer. Over long early morning walks he saw how a photographer can use light and shadow, composition and perspective and transform the threedimensional world into a two-dimensional image. His French father taught him about the history, wonders, and culture of his father’s youth. His mother was an architectural and art historian who shared her deep passion of the world of art and design and was exposed to all the great artists, museums and architectural wonders of Europe and the States.

Micaud has exhibited at the Festival de Photo in Paris, The L‘Oro exhibition in Milan, Milk Gallery in New York City, 50 Years of Fashion Harper’s Bazaar Australia, Show and book, The Art of Fashion Photography and several other books along with countless magazines. His advertising campaigns for various luxury brands have been on view around the world in iconic locations such as the larger-than-life billboards in Times Square.

A photograph, at its essence, is simply a moment in time captured for posterity. Intuitively one responds to certain imagery initially from the perspective of subject matter but also due to the connection the viewer has to an inexplicable alchemy of light and shadow, color and contrast, a sensibility of extraordinary stillness or inspired motion, and a certain knowledge that we are seeing an utterly revised world, compliments of the camera’s lens and the photographer’s eye.

He may approach a project with an organized and analytical use of left brain. But, once he begins, he stated that: “I begin the process, I pay close attention to my quiet internal intuitions and follow the creative side of my brain. It is by this awareness that often the unexpected becomes apparent which is usually the most interesting approach, and for me that is the point where true harmony exists.”

Christophe’s work has been described as framed moments created in his personal Dioramas, which can be attributed to his early exposure to art and architecture. In the 80’s when Christopher moved to NY he discovered the world of Warhol, Basquiat, Herring, and Schnabel. As all were active artists in New York at the time, they all frequented the same night clubs. One of which, Area, was where he was introduced to the amazing monthly Dioramas, which was a perfect vignette that combined a fantasy subject matter with color and placement to create an ideal moment in life that he serves as an inspiration to visualize and recreate. He spends his time between Miami, St Petersburg, NY and LA and sometimes overseas. Select editions from his vast archives along with his newer photographic work is available in large format prints between 30x40” to 60-80” through Libertine Contemporary Fine Art where he goes by his family nickname of ‘Christophe’.

Libertinefineart.com