dieter blum

Blum began taking photographs ambitiously as a teenager, became a member of the “lichtbildnergruppe esslingen” early on, worked as a curator of the European photo projects and founded his own studio. From 1971 onwards he created his first photo series for the magazine “Stern”, for which he worked as a freelance photographer for 29 years. His photos and reports subsequently appear in Spiegel, Zeit Magazin, Vanity Fair, Time Magazine and Geo, among others. Own publications and opulent illustrated books in very large editions were created, including: 1976, Africa - Fascination of a Continent; 1980, USSR – voyage of discovery to a rich country; 1984, Nippon – The new superstate Japan. In total, Dieter Blum has published over sixty books over the course of almost 40 years of work.\

Dieter Blum has been traveling around the world as a chronicler since the mid-1960s. He accompanied, among others, Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1981) in rehearsals, performances and on tour, or - in 2005/2006 - the then Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for eighteen months. In his freelance work, which is largely dedicated to dance, as a photographer and director he creates images with high aesthetic standards and erotic charisma. His exhibitions with these images Body Cathedrals (2003/04) became a sensation in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Dieter Blum received the greatest international attention for a cigarette-campaign, which he played a key role in shaping from 1992 to 2004 as one of two European photographers. The images and the appeal of freedom and adventure they claim have made it into one of the most successful campaigns ever. A German photographer who captures the genuinely American myth so well that the well-known US artist Richard Prince uses it in his work.

Exhibitions

2021
Blue Horses, photo sculpture, Venet-Haus Gallery, Neu-Ulm

2018
*Cowboys - The First shooting, *The Granary Art Gallery, Weston Park, Großbritannien
Wild Dancers, Leica Gallery, Konstanz

2017
Blue Horses, Missed. The Tower of the Blue Horses by Franz Marc, Staatl. Graph. Sammlung Munich

2016
Cowboys, Daimler Contemporary, Berlin
foto.com, Esslinger Kunstverein, Villa Merkel Esslingen

2015
The Photographer, Venet-Haus Galerie, Neu-Ulm
Galerie Atelier Gustave, Paris

2011
Esslinger Kunstverein, Villa Merkel Esslingen

2010
The Amen Break, Gallery Thomas Flor

2009
Floor 2 Gallery, Rottweil

2007
Gallery Frankfurt

2006
Galerie Vonderbank Frankfurt/Main

2005
Venice Biennale
Galerie Terminus München

2004
Museum of Photography Moscow
Venice Biennale

2003
Gallery of the City of Stuttgart
State Russian Museum St.Petersburg

1999
Museum of cultures Basel-Basler Fasnacht

1998
German Dance Archive Cologne - SK Stiftung Kultur

1997
Frankfurter Kunstverein

1996
State Museums in Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage

1995
Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart