Stieglitz 19

ALEXANDRA CATIERE LIST OF WORKS

Still Lives (ANTWERP)

One of the most fascinating and demanding aspects of this painting genre—and a key reason why many still life photographers are drawn to it—is the opportunity to experiment with composition and lighting, often even more than with the theme of vanity itself. Because photography depends so heavily on light, this type of still life offers a wide scope for technical exploration. Much like the Old Masters, photographers create a refined interplay between deep shadows and striking illumination, allowing only certain objects to stand out.

Their creativity is perhaps most evident in advertising and food photography, although many are equally committed to the artistic ideas behind their compositions. It is therefore no surprise that many still life photographers originate from Belgium and the Netherlands, given the strong legacy of vanitas painting in these regions. At the same time, this concept has inspired photographers worldwide. From flowers and fruit to objects of all shapes and kinds, their images blend centuries-old interpretations with contemporary aesthetics and the possibilities offered by modern technology.

Works by Lara Gasparotto, Lin Zhipeng , Chen Wei, Alexandra Catiere

Jiang Zhi, Jessica Backhaus, Wolfgang Tillmans, Nina Gross , Tine Bek

Thomas Vandenberghe, Max Pinckers , Yusuf Sevincli , Man Ray, Roger Ballen

Marthe Robin, Luc Tuymans (MUHKA loan)

Alexandra Catiere (BRUSSELS)

Born in Minsk in 1978, Alexandra Catiere moved to the United States after studying modern languages in order to pursue a photography program at the International Center of Photography in New York City. She later worked in the studio of Irving Penn.

She settled in France in 2008. In 2011, Alexandra Catiere received the BMW Residency Award at the Musée Nicéphore-Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône and exhibited at the Rencontres de la photographie d’Arles. Since then, her work has been presented in numerous institutions, including the Centre national de l’audiovisuel, the Photoforum Pasquart, the Museo di arte contemporanea di Roma, and the Musée Nicéphore-Niépce in 2019.

She was awarded the Prix Élysée 2018–2020, the French Ministry of Culture’s Grande commande photographique in 2022–2023, and the Prix Camera Clara in 2024, which honors the art of large-format camera photography, a unique approach in the digital era.

In 2025, she became the guest artist of the INSTANTS residency initiated by Château Palmer and Leica.

Her work is part of numerous public and private collections, including the New York Public Library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, the Fondation Neuflize, and the Bachelot Collection.

Alexandra Catiere’s borderless journey reflects her desire to reach toward the universal. From the former Soviet Union to France, by way of the United States, the photographer has made timelessness one of the defining aspects of her work. Reviving the humanist tradition, her images capture sensations and atmospheres with remarkable sensitivity. Never confined solely to portraiture or reportage, Alexandra Catiere uses the camera as an instrument of empathy toward human nature and life itself.

She Received the Niepce price in may 2026