Rico Puhlmann: Master of fashion photography honored in Berlin!

Rico Puhlmann: Master of fashion photography honored in Berlin!

Berlin, Deutschland - Rico Puhlmann, born in Berlin in 1934, is considered one of the successful fashion photographers of the 20th century. He started his career as a children's actor and later turned to photography. In the 1950s, Puhlmann studied fashion graphics, art and art history and shaped the fashion image over four decades. His clients included renowned magazines such as Vogue, Glamor, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ. Today his work is recognized in a comprehensive exhibition.

The exhibition entitled " Rico Puhlmann-Fashion Photography 50S-90s " takes place from June 27, 2025 to February 15, 2026 in the Museum of Photography in Berlin. It shows the complexity of his work and its sustainable effect on fashion photography, which is often perceived as frivolous and commercially in the academic art world.

influence and create

Puhlmann lived in New York from 1970 after building a successful career in Berlin. In the United States, he worked with famous models such as Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell and thus influenced the change in the modern image of women. His photos were characterized by naturalness and spontaneity while at the same time keeping control of his creations. Klaus Puhlmann, his brother, is committed to the accessibility of the work and the care of his souvenir. He describes that Rico understood the importance of light and the surrounding area as a children's actor, which was reflected in his photographic work.

The exhibition also looks at aspects of fashion, photography, press and cultural history. Over 100 exhibits are shown, which largely come from Puhlmann's estate and are managed by his brother and his wife. This also includes that he photographed cover for important magazines and was present in double pages. Puhlmann began his career as a fashion illustrator when the "Berlin Chic" flourished after the Second World War, and was involved in the development of a new image for West Berlin fashion.

cultural influences of Puhlmann's work

Puhlmann's influence went beyond the purely visual aspect; He actively contributed to the development of fashion photography in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, technical developments and art movements such as op and pop art changed the fashion image. Despite the many challenges that fashion photography brought with it over the years, Puhlmann's work is an important component.

The new exhibition is curated by Dr. Britta Bommert and Hans-Michael Koetzle in cooperation with the Rico Puhlmann Archive. An accompanying catalog appears in the Kettler publishing house, Dortmund, and offers contributions from various authors who illuminate the cultural context of fashion photography. Puhlmann died tragically in 1996 in a plane crash in front of Long Island, but his legacy lives on through such exhibitions and the constant examination of his work.

In a time when fashion photography is constantly changing, Puhlmann's approach remains an inspiring role model for many photographers, while they have to deal with the digital transformation and the influence of social media [wikipedia] .