Viviane Sassen

Sassen is recognised for her distinctive style combining abstract geometry, bold shadows, and vibrant colour in both art and fashion photography. She frequently uses the human body as a sculptural, often fragmented element within her compositions. Her work blurs the line between editorial fashion photography and fine art, making her one of the most sought-after photographers working today.

Sassen spent several years of her childhood in Kenya, where her father worked as a doctor, an experience that profoundly shaped her visual sensibility and relationship with light and landscape. She has returned frequently to East Africa for personal projects, including her acclaimed photobook "Flamboya." Her African imagery has been noted for avoiding documentary conventions, instead pursuing a dreamlike abstraction.

Sassen won the Dutch Prix de Rome in 2007, a prestigious award that helped launch her international career. She has also received the Infinity Award for Art from the International Center of Photography in New York. Her work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Photographers' Gallery in London and Huis Marseille in Amsterdam.

Sassen has shot campaigns and editorial work for fashion houses including Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu, among others. Her editorial work has appeared in publications such as i-D, Numéro, and Dazed & Confused. Her fashion photography retains the sculptural, abstract quality that defines her personal fine-art projects.