| Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art

Life and Work

Michael Dannenmann is one of the most important representatives of contemporary portrait photography internationally. His photographs have been published in magazines such as ARTnews, Forbes, Manager Magazine, Vogue, Die Zeit, and Stern. Dannenmann creates expressive portraits of the film, fashion, music, and art world greats. These are pictures that remain in your mind. The fascination of his expressive portraits lies in the photographer's flair for capturing the core character of a person in a matter of seconds – illuminating something personal in a flash. The “decisive moment” in photography. Michael Dannenmann has this intuitive flair.

Michael Dannenmann's portraits are created using an analogue Hasselblad medium format camera. Through the photographer’s command of the camera technology, his visual skill, and his sensitivity, the images gain equilibrium and intensity. He successfully presents the uniqueness of a person’s nature in detail so that his portrait photographs are rooted in traditional portraiture.

There is a masterly interplay of planning and spontaneity. Dannenmann leaves enough space for those having their portrait photographed and merely creates the surrounding environment. The time factor becomes the decisive instrument. Preparing the settings and not to mention setting up the camera – from inserting the film, choosing the correct image setting, the light, all the way to adjusting the focus – all take time. The dialog with the photographer requires patience and trust from his model. The wait allows the person to find themselves. They relax, are completely at one with themselves. This seems to add calmness and thoughtfulness to Dannenmann’s actions. A calmness that is ultimately reflected in his portrait pictures. The look of those being photographed is calm and the shots show an unforced authenticity.

Michael Dannenmann's works can be found in important public and private collections and have been shown at the Fotofestival Obersdorf (2016), the Kunsthalle Osnabrück (2012), and the Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf (2008), among others. An impressive overview of his artistic work can be found in his 2012 photobook Portraits.

Biography

1959	born in Stuttgart, DE
1980	Studies of painting at the Kunstakademie Stuttgart, DE
1981 – 1986	Studies of photography at the University of Applied Sciences Dortmund, DE
1988	Membership in the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie e.V.
1989	one-year stay in London, GB
1990	Opening of the studio in Duesseldorf, DE
1992 – 1997	Lecturer for Photography at the University of Applied Sciences Dortmund, DE
2013	Co-founder and since then jury chairman of the Felix Schoeller Photo Award
2019	Co-founder and since then jury chairman of the 'Deutscher Friedenspreis für Fotografie' (German Peace Prize for Photography)
	lives and works in Duesseldorf

Works (Selection)

Michael Dannenmann, Markus Lüpertz, 2016

Michael Dannenmann, Konrad Klapheck, 2013

Michael Dannenmann, Fulgenci Mestres Bertran - Schauspieler, 2016, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Fulgenci Mestres Bertran - Weißclown Gensi, 2016, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Marlitt Pallavacini - Sängerin, 2016, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Paolo Casanova - Clown Carillon, 2016, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Trockadero, Boysie, 2013

Michael Dannenmann, Dennis Hopper, 1988, © © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Isabella Rossellini, 2009, © © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Pipilotti Rist, 1999, © © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Bryan Adams, 2013, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Catherine Batcheller, 1987, © © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Heinz Mack, 2008, © © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Julian Schnabel, 2010, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Moondog, 1992, © © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Norbert Tadeusz, 2010, © Michael Dannenmann

Michael Dannenmann, Otto Piene, 2011, © Michael Dannenmann

Solo exhibitions (selection)

2023	Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys, Kunstmuseum Thun, Thun, CH
2019	Portraits, Kunsthalle Koblenz, Coblenz, DE
2018	Portrait Sittings, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE
2017	Schwarzweiss, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach, DE Let’s buy it, Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen, Oberhausen, DE
2016	Portraits, Oberstdorfer Fotogipfel, Oberstdorf, DE
2014	Mies 1:1 Fotografische Ansichten, Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, Stuttgart, DE
2013	HighLights, Galerie Hilaneh von Kories, Berlin, DE Michael Dannenmann – Portraits, Vertical Gallery IV – InterContinental, Dusseldorf, DE
2012	Portraits, Kunsthalle Osnabrück, Osnabrück, DE
2011	Ladenportraits im Ruhrgebiet, Pixelprojekt – Wissenschaftspark Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, DE
2010	Portraits, Deutschlandfunk, Cologne, DE Macht zeigen, Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, DE
1998	Fotografische Portraits, Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, DE

Group exhibitions (selection)

2020	BE schenken, Beck & Eggeling, Dusseldorf, DE
2017	Galerie fiftyfifty, Dusseldorf, DE
2015	The Photographer, Kunst- und Kulturzentrum der StädteRegion Aachen, Monschau, DE Hommage an Michelangelo, Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn, DE Der Göttliche. Hommage an Michelangelo, Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, Bonn, DE The Photographers, KuK Kunstzentrum Monschau, Monschau, DE
2013	HighLights, Galerie Hilaneh von Kories, Hamburg, DE
2012	Portraits, Kunsthalle Osnabrück, Osnabrück, DE
2010	Macht zeigen, Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, DE
2009	Künstlerportraits, Art Cologne, Cologne, DE
2008	Fotos schreiben Kunstgeschichte, Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf, DE
2007	KIC – Kunst in der Carlshütte, Büdelsdorf, DE
2006	International Photo Festival, Xining, CN
2003	Akademie der Künste, Berlin, DE
2002	Die heilige Kuh, Visual Gallery – Photokina, Cologne, DE Kunstforum – DLR, Berlin, DE Ich habe einen Traum, Café Einstein, Berlin, DE
2000	Zeit Blicke, Galerie der Stadt Stuttgart, Stuttgart, DE
1999	57th Street Gallery N.Y, New York, US Stuttgarter Kunstverein, Stuttgart, DE
1998	Schwarz Gesehen, Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Bonn, DE American Ballet Theatre Gallery, New York, US

EXHIBITIONS AT BECK & EGGELING (SELECTION)

#BEduesseldorf

Michael Dannenmann. Portrait Sittings

Dusseldorf / 7 February – 7 April 2018

#BEduesseldorf

A Bouquet of Flowers – Transient Beauty

Dusseldorf / 17 May – 29 June 2024

News

düsseldorf photo+ Biennale for Visual and Sonic Media 2024

#BEnews

#BEartist

düsseldorf photo+ Biennale for Visual and Sonic Media 2024

Beck & Eggeling shows: “The bouquet – The ephemeral splendour. Photography from the beginnings to today”