Jessica Backhaus was born in Cuxhaven, Germany in 1970 and grew up in an artistic family. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Paris, where she later studied photography and visual communications. Here she met Gisele Freund in 1992, who became her mentor. In 1995 her passion for photography drew her to New York, where she assisted photographers, pursued her own projects and lived until 2009.
Jessica Backhaus is regarded as one of the most distinguished voices in contemporary photography in Germany today. Her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin. To date, she has six publications to her name; Jesus and the Cherries, 2005, What Still Remains, 2008, One Day in November, 2008 and I Wanted to See the World, 2010, One day, 2010 and Once, still and forever, 2012 all published by Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin. Her photographs are in many prominent art collections including Art Collection Deutsche Börse, Germany, ING Art Collection, Belgium, Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA and the Margulies Collection, Miami, USA.
Jessica Backhaus is represented by Robert Morat Galerie in Hamburg and Berlin, Robert Klein Gallery in Boston, Projektraum Knut Osper in Cologne, Stieglitz 19 Gallery in Belgium, Wouter van Leeuwen Gallery in Amsterdam and Micamera Gallery in Milan.
Short Documentary by FOAM
2012 – WONDER Jessica Backhaus, a film by Willem Aerts.
2013 – CC Contemporary, Kunsthalle Erfurt, a film by Marcus Grysczok.
Solo Exhibitions
2014 – Artist presentation, Maison de la Photographie, Lille, France.
2014 – Artist presentation, Photographica Fine Art, Lugano, Switzerland.
2014 – "Once, still and forever", Micamera, Milan, Italy.
2013 – "Once, still and forever", Stieglitz 19, Antwerp, Belgium.
2013 – "Once, still and forever", Robert Klein Gallery, Boston, USA.
2013 – "Classic-Contemporary", Kunsthalle Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany.
2013 – "Once, still and forever", Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg, Germany.
2013 – "Once, still and forever", Wouter van Leeuwen Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2013 – "Once, still and forever", PARIS PHOTO LA, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Los Angeles, USA.
2012 – “Once, still and forever”, Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2012 – “One day in November” and “What still remains”, Stieglitz 19, Antwerp, Belgium.
2012 – Artist presentation, 10 year survey, Micamera, Milan, Italy.
2011 – “I wanted to see the world”, Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxembourg.
2011 – “I wanted to see the world & New Works”, Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg, Germany.
2011 – Artist presentation, 10 year survey, Robert Morat Galerie, Berlin, Germany.
2010 – “I wanted to see the world” Laurence Miller Gallery, New York, United States.
2010 – “Die Welt wird schöner mit jedem Tag” & “All about my mother”, European Month of Photography Berlin, Vice Versa Showroom, Berlin, Germany.
2009 – “One day in November” & “What Still Remains”, Fotohof, Salzburg, Austria.
2009 – “Jesus and the Cherries”, “Transphotographiques 2009”, Maison de la Photographie, Lille, France.
2009 – “What Still Remains” & “One Day in November”, Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg, Germany.
2009 – “What Still Remains” & “Jesus and the Cherries”, Städtische Galerie, Waldkraiburg, Germany.
2008 – “What Still Remains” & “Jesus and the Cherries”, Galerie im Schloß Borbeck, Essen, Germany.
2006 – “Jesus and the Cherries”, Month of Photography, Krakow, Poland.
2006 – “Jesus and the Cherries”, Kommunale Galerie, Leinwandhaus, Frankfurt, Germany.
2006 – “Jesus and the Cherries”, Yancey Richardson Gallery, New York, United States.
2005 – “Jesus and the Cherries”, “Lichtwiesen", Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, Germany.
2005 – “Jesus and the Cherries”, Kirsten Roschlaub Gallery, Triennial of Photography, Hamburg, Germany.
Group Exhibitions
2014 – "Heimat? Osteuropa in der zeitgenössischen Fotografie", Kunstforum Ostdeutsche Galerie, Regensburg, Germany.
2014 – "Landschaft im Dekolleté- Fenster als Element und Metapher, Kunst-und Kulturstiftung Opelvillen, Rüsselsheim, Germany.
2014 – "3 Positionen aus Berlin", Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2013 – PARIS PHOTO, Robert Klein Gallery booth, Paris, France.
2013 – UNSEEN PHOTO FAIR, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2013 – "Summertime…and the living is easy", Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxembourg, Luzembourg.
2013 – "Showstoppers", Robert Klein Gallery, Ars Libri, Boston, United States.
2013 – Art Brussels, Stieglitz 19 Gallery booth, Brussels, Belgium.
2013 – Art Rotterdam, Wouter van Leeuwen Gallery booth, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
2013 – "Do you read me?", Diane Kruse Galerie, Hamburg, Germany.
2013 – “Carl Schuch und die zeitgenössische Stillleben-Fotografie”, Kunstsammlungen, Zwickau, Germany.
2013 – “Carl Schuch und die zeitgenössische Stillleben-Fotografie”, Städt. Kramer-Museum, Kempen, Germany.
2013 – “Carl Schuch und die zeitgenössische Stillleben-Fotografie”, Stadtmuseum Siegburg, Siegburg, Germany.
2013 – “Carl Schuch und die zeitgenössische Stillleben-Fotografie”, Siegerlandmuseum, Siegen, Germany.
2013 – “Carl Schuch und die zeitgenössische Stillleben-Fotografie”, Museum Ratingen, Ratingen, Germany.
2012 – Art Miami/Context, Robert Klein Gallery Booth, Miami, USA.
2012 – “I wanted to see the world", Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, United States.
2012 – PARIS PHOTO, Robert Klein Gallery booth and Robert Morat Galerie booth, Paris, France.
2012 – “Stillleben. Carl Schuch und die zeitgenössische Stilllebenfotografie", Herforder Kunstverein, Herford, Germany.
2012 – “Accrochage”, Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2012 – “Beauty-Flowers in Contemporary Photography”, Tokyo Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan.
2012 – “Atelier + Küche - Labore der Sinne”, Marta Herford, Herford, Germany.
2012 – AIPAD Photography show, Robert Klein Gallery booth, New York, United States.
2012 – "L'espace de l'autre", Centre d’art et photographie de Lectoure, Lectoure, France.
2011 – PARIS PHOTO, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Paris, France.
2011 – ART FAIR 21, Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2011 – “Through the Plain Camera: Small and Shapely Pleasures in Contemporary Photography”, Haverford College, Haverford, United States.
2011 – “Blumen-zeitgenössische Fotografie”, Alfred Erhardt Stiftung, Berlin, Germany.
2011 – “Past, Present, Future III”, Laurence Miller Gallery, New York, United States.
2011 – “Three photographers”, Gloriapalast, Cuxhaven, Germany.
2011 – “Urban Colours”, Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2011 – ART CHICAGO, Laurence Miller Gallery booth, New York, United States.
2011 – AIPAD Photography show, Laurence Miller Gallery booth, New York, United States.
2010 – ART MIAMI, Laurence Miller Gallery booth, Miami, United States.
2010 – “Selected works”, MARGULIES WAREHOUSE, Miami, United States.
2010 – PARIS PHOTO, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Laurence Miller Gallery booth, Paris, France.
2010 – ART FAIR 21, Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2010 – “Lieblingswerke”, Heidelberger Kunstverein, Heidelberg, Germany.
2010 – “Summertime”, Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg, Germany.
2010 – “Past, Present, Future II”, Laurence Miller Gallery, New York, United States.
2010 – Alain Gutharc Galerie, Paris, France.
2010 – Madrid Photo, Laurence Miller Gallery booth, Madrid, Spain.
2010 – “Structures", Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2010 – “Frozen in Tension", Alexander Tutsek Stiftung, Munich, Germany.
2009 – “Was kommt, was geht", Projektraum Knut Osper, Cologne, Germany.
2009 – PARIS PHOTO, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Paris, France.
2009 – “The Beauty of the Mistake", Puppenhaus, Lisbon, Portugal.
2009 – “The Tree", James Cohan Gallery Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
2009 – AIPAD Photography show, Robert Morat Galerie booth, New York, United States.
2008 – Photo Miami, Art & Photography Fair, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Miami, United States.
2008 – Berliner Liste, Art & Photography Fair, Robert Morat Galerie booth, Berlin, Germany.
2008 – "One Day in November", Photomeetings Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
2008 – “Photo50: Untitled Tales", London Art Fair, London, United Kingdom.
2007 – Art Collection Deutsche Börse-New Acquisitions, Frankfurt, Germany.
2006 – “The Presence of Absence", Gallery W52, New York, United States.
2006 – The Photographer's Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
2005 – “After the Fact", Berlin Photography Festival, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, Germany.
2005 – Schweppes Photographic Portrait Prize, The Lowry, Manchester, United Kingdom.
2004 – Schweppes Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
2001 – “On the road" sponsored by Audi, Stockholm, Sweden.
1998 – John Kobal Portrait Award, Midland Art Centre, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
1998 – John Kobal Portrait Award, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland.
1998 – John Kobal Portrait Award, The Royal Photographic Society, Bath, United Kingdom.
1997 – John Kobal Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
1997 – “Focus New York" Space Untitled Gallery, New York, United States.
Collections
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States
Art Collection Deutsche Börse, Germany
Margulies Collection, Miami, Florida, United States
Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Collection, Akron, Ohio, United States
ING Art Collection, Belgium
Fonds National d'Art Contemporain (FNAC), France
Artothèque de Passac, France
Alexander Tutsek Foundation, Germany
Art Collection, Cleveland Clinic, United States
Private Collections, Europe and the United States
Lectures, Teaching, Artist Talks & Workshops
Micamera, Milan, Italy, March 2014
Micamera, Milan, Italy, Feb. 2014
Artist Talk with Kai Uwe Schierz, Kunsthalle Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany, Oct. 2013
Micamera, Milan, Italy, March 2012
Artist Talk with Karen Fromm, Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg, Germany, May 2011
Artist Talk with Dr. Matthias Harder, Robert Morat Galerie, Berlin, Germany, April 2011
Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Stuttgart, Germany, April – July 2010
Fotohof, Salzburg, Austria, June 2009
Kassel Photobook Festival, Kassel, Germany, May 2009
Haus der Photographie, Hamburg, Germany, March 2009
International Center of Photography, New York, USA, Feb. 2009
Geneva University of Art and Design, Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 2008
Photomeetings, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Sept. 2008
International Center of Photography, New York, USA, Oct. 2007
Publications
"Women Photographers", Boris Friedewald, Prestel, 2014
"The Photographers Sketchbook", Thames & Hudson, London, 2014
“Once, still and forever”, Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg / Berlin, 2012
“Atelier + Kitchen = Laboratories of the senses”, Hatje Cantz, 2012
"One day – 10 Photographers", Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg / Berlin, 2010
"Die Welt wird schöner mit jedem Tag" Edition, Revolver Publishing, Berlin, 2010
"I wanted to see the world", Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg / Berlin, 2010
"One day in November", Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg, 2008
"What Still Remains", Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg, 2008
"XL Photography 3", Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern, 2007
"Jesus and the Cherries", Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg, 2005
Pourquoi ? Quelle est la capitale européenne qui connaît aujourd’hui une prodigieuse effervescence artistique ? Berlin.
Quel est le pays qui a le plus d’écoles de photographie prestigieuses dans le monde ? l’Allemagne.
Quel est le magazine qui, chaque année, fait un état des lieux d’un pays à travers sa culture photographique ? L’Insensé Photo.
Vous l’aurez bien sûr deviné, le numéro de L’Insensé Photo, à paraître le 29 septembre 2009, est un spécial : « Berlin & Co, les photographes allemands ».
Comment ? Effectivement, il n’y a pas plus riche en photographie que cette culture si exigeante, au passé conceptuel et à l’avenir ouvert. 50 photo...
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The AIPAD Photography Show New York, will be presented by the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) from March 17 through 20, 2011. More than 75 of the world’s leading fine art photography galleries will present a wide range of museum-quality work including contemporary, modern, and 19th century photographs, as well as photo-based art, video, and new media, at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. The 31st edition of The AIPAD Photography Show New York will open with a Gala Preview on March 16 to benefit the John Szarkowski Fund, an endowment for photography acquisitions at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The AIPAD Photography Show New York is the longest running and foremost exhibition of fine art photography.&...
Jessica Backhaus - New Work. Jessica Backhaus is regarded as one of the most distinguished voices in contemporary photography in Germany today. Her work is exhibited and published internationally and found in important collections, both public and private, such as the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Margulies Collection in Miami or the Deutschen Börse Collection in Frankfurt. Born in 1970 and raised in Berlin, she studied photography and visual communication in Paris. From 1995 to 2010, Backhaus lived in New York; last year she has moved back to her home town and is now living and working in Berlin.
As in former series such as Jesus and the Cherries (2005) or What still remains (2008), Jessica Backhaus' new work in the series I wanted to see the World (2010) and Once, still and forever...
Photojournalism and Portraiture Symposium · Tribute to Gisèle Freund on her 100th anniversary
Born in Berlin in 1908, Gisèle Freund was one of Europe's most prominent photographers and a pillar among French feminist intellectuals after fleeing Nazi Germany and settling in Paris in the 1930's, where she pursued her doctoral studies at the Sorbonne. Her thesis on photography in France in the 19th century was met with scepticism, because photography was not considered a serious study then.
In the course of her long career, she went on about 80 photographic assignments around the world, mainly for Time and Life. As the only female founding member of Magnum, she earned her living as a photojournalist. Today however, she is noted for being one of the greatest portrait photographers ever. "She wa...