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"My father stood tall, straight and strong. He was fond of photography, he taught me how to take pictures. Peter Knapp taught me how to see."
Stéphane Kossmann.

Biography of Stéphane Kossmann



Born in Tours in 1959 of Franco-German parents, Stéphane Kossman grew up in Touraine, in the Paris region, then in the United States, where he set out on his career as a basketball player. During his early years of university in Seattle, he embarked on a training course in 'visual communication'. On his return to France, he did his military service as a photographer in the French air force.

This was a dream opportunity for this young man of 21 to combine his two passions : basketball and photography. Settling afterwards in Marseille, he spent several years working in a photo processing laboratory before enrolling on a course at the "Rencontres internationales de la Photographie"(an international meeting of photographers) in Arles.
This proved to be a turning point where he developed his taste for taking pictures and where he met up with Peter Knapp. As cruise photographer on board the "Mermoz", he sailed round the world before returning to Paris. His career path led him to work for the magazine press, for '7 à Paris'.

In 1989, the magazine sent him to cover the Cannes Film Festival. Since then he has covered " the steps "every year. His 'natural' poses of stars have been the subject of several exhibitions but never yet have they been brought together in a book. Today, Stéphane Kossmann is continuing his freelance career, in his quest for sincerity.



Since 2005 Stephane Kossmann is based in New York and is concentrating on contemporary art.



EXHIBITIONS


91 et plus

January 1991 : Centre Communica, Marseille.


"Gueules d’Amour " et portraits d'artistes (artists' portraits) - a touring and evolving exhibition


May 1994 : Cannes International Film Festival

December 1994 : Institut de Mode, Marseilles.

March 1995 : "Chez Ledoyen" restaurant, Paris.

September 1995 : "Le Royal", La Baule European Festival.

November 1995 : "Festival du cinéma et art de vivre", Sarlat.

December 1995 : Maison des Vins, Avignon.

March 1996 : "Festival de l'humour ", Chamrousse.

June 1996 : " Fête du cinéma au Cezanne", Aix-en Provence.

October 1996 : Geneva Film Festival.

December 1996 : "Doobie's", Paris.

April 1997 : "Café Frederick' s", New York. USA.

November 1999 : 15th Mediterranean Culture Film Festival, Una Volta Cultural Centre, Bastia.

May 2002 : "Chopard Exhibition", VIP, Cannes International Film Festival.


OBSERVATIONS


March 2004: Galerie Edward Mitterrand, Geneve. Exhibition of 25 pictures taken from the book “Observations sur les marches à Cannes, par Stéphane Kossmann”. Artists portraits.

April 2004: Paris, launch of the Book “Observations sur les marches à cannes par Stéphane Kossmann” Editor: Marval. Texts from Peter Knapp and François Cheval.

Mai/June 2004: Cannes film Festival. Exhibit in the streets of Cannes. 10 artists portraits on the principal walls in town.

Nov 2004: AfI Fest Los Angeles, Hollywood . Exhibit at the AFI festival, Arclight Center. 40 artists portraits .

Mai 2005: Cannes film Festival. Exhibit in the streets of Cannes with 11 artists portraits taken from his work an d book titled “ Observations”.

Septembre 2005: Film Festival of Deauville: exhibit in the streets of Deauville with 17 artists portraits on the principal walls in town.

Octobre 2005: London, Macondo Gallery. Exhibit of artist’s portraits taken from his book titled “Observations”.

May 2006: exhibit in Madrid of 24 pictures at the FNAC building in the heart of the city.

September 2006: exhibit at the Casino of Deauville for the opening of the American Film Festival

November 2006: official exhibitor in the Paris Month of Photography organised by La Maison
Europeene de la Photographie” which is the most prestigious exhibit in France for photography .

September 2007 Giant exhibit in Deauville with 120 portraits displayed in the city streets.


CONTEMPORARY ART


December 2006 : exhibit at Chahan gallery in Paris,showing latest work in contempart :CROSS and TIME.

February 2007 : exhibit of :CROSS at the International Show of « Premiere Vision « in Villepinte.

June 2007 : exhibit at Jean Patou gallery in Paris showing : CROSS.

September 2007 : exhibit at Agnes Martel gallery in Morges…first time showing : CROSS outside of France.