“Prince was the first celebrity I had ever photographed. I had previously shot him in Paisley Park in Minnesota. This time, he was performing at Madison Square Garden. I thought it was appropriate to shoot him in the underground parking lot leading to the Garden. The magazine had chosen Versace to make him a long coat in purple, however, I thought it was not right for the picture and convinced him just to wear his own clothes, which in the end was a more authentic representation.”

—Steven Klein

For L'Uomo Vogue, September 2004

ULTIMATE STEVEN KLEIN presents an exclusive curation of 18 unique Polaroid works from the celebrated photographer’s archive. Showcasing Klein’s distinctive approach to photography as a means of storytelling, this exceptional grouping offers a window into the intimate relationship between photographer and subject. Taken between 1999 and 2015, the Polaroids feature striking portraits of icons in fashion, music and film, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Madonna, Prince, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Brad Pitt, among others.

A visionary and creator, Steven Klein has made unique contributions to the arts throughout his nearly four-decade career and consistently pushes the boundaries of visual expression through his image-making. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to photography, Klein received the prestigious Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography (ICP) in 2014. His work has been exhibited globally, gracing prominent venues such as Deitch Projects, Gagosian and the Guggenheim in New York. Furthermore, his work is featured in several public collections, including those of the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A in London and the ICP in New York. The artist’s body of work has also been celebrated through his first monograph Steven Klein, published by Phaidon in 2022.