Albert Watson

Albert Watson has made his mark as one of the world’s most successful photographers since he began his career in 1970, blending art, fashion and commercial photography. 

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, Albert studied graphic design at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, and film and television at the Royal College of Art in London. Though blind in one eye since birth, Albert studied photography as part of his curriculum. In 1970, he moved to the United States with his wife, Elizabeth and Albert’s interest in photography began.
 
In 1976, Albert landed his first job for Vogue, and with his move to New York that same year, his career took off. Over the years, Albert’s photographs have appeared on more than 100 covers of Vogue worldwide and been featured in countless other publications, from Rolling Stone to Time to Harper’s Bazaar. Albert has created the photography for hundreds of ad campaigns for major companies, such as Prada, the Gap, Levi’s, Revlon and Chanel. He also has shot dozens of iconic Hollywood movie posters, such as “Kill Bill” and “Memoirs of a Geisha.” 

Alongside this, Albert has spent much of his time working on art projects for his museum and gallery exhibitions, which feature his well-known portraits and fashion photographs, along with powerful shots from his travels and interests. From portraits of Alfred Hitchcock and Steve Jobs, beauty shots of Kate Moss, to Las Vegas landscapes and still-life photographs of King Tutankhamen artifacts, Albert’s diversity and body of work are unparalleled.

His photographs are featured in collections worldwide including the National Portrait Gallery, London; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Smithsonian, Washington DC and the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, among others. Albert has won numerous honours, including an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the art of photography, and a lifetime achievement award from the Royal Photographic Society. Other awards include a Cartier Lifetime Achievement Award, Lucie Award, three Andys, a Der Steiger Award, and a Hasselblad Masters Award. 

Watson has been included in many institutional exhibitions including at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the International Center of Photography in New York, and the Brooklyn Museum, with solo exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in Milan, Italy; the KunstHausWien in Vienna, Austria; the City Art Centre in Edinburgh, among others.