Bio & Résumé

in a world growing more connected, find beauty in isolation.

A freelance photographer skilled in portraiture and beauty, Richard Gerst creates imagery considered classic yet current, referencing the glossy books he grew up with near the end of the disco era & Studio 54. 

Gerst began stills work after shooting a music video in late 2005, acquiring in both digital and film format. His print work has been exhibited and collected internationally.

Gerst's limited edition, hand-bound premier art-fashion cine-zine TYBALT, a dark, modern remix of the classic Romeo & Juliet featuring menswear by Michael Bastian, was published by Silas Finch. The signed, numbered Private edition included a 5 minute short film, and sold out prior to going to press. 

Continuing his tradition of understated social commentary, Gerst's self published 1&1ly User Manual, a limited edition small format art book, was the culmination of a project initiated in 2013. Featuring images and text produced in collaboration with robotics and machine learning specialist Brad Knox, PhD, it sold out to collectors in Feb 2017, and was nominated for the 2017 Hewlett Packard Print Design Award by Duggal in New York..

Select publications, editorial & portraiture, print & online, International:
CrushFanzine, JON, Vogue, FLAUNT, Elle, GQItalia.it, GQ.com, VISION Online, Cosmopolitan, Male Model Scene, NordicMan, CLIENT, MASTERS, PhotoVogue Online, Fashionisto, Supplementaire, Carbon Copy, Models.com

Moving Images: 
2017: Music video "Stray", Garek, multi-week #1 LBTQ music chart

2016: Short film: "Serve" with Eliseu Zimmer featuring menswear by TOM FORD, FTape (UK) 

2013-2015: GQItalia.it and VISION online: Sonata Series short film editorials; "Poena Luxuria", campaign menswear by Marlon Gobel

2006: Music video, "Reviving", Daniel Cartier (Orchard Records). Screened in multiple film festivals; broadcast on LoGo (USA) & internationally by MTV.com

Print Monographs & Exhibitions:
2005: Definitions solo studio exhibition, New York.
2006: About Face, Studio F3, New York.
2007: Re(Dis)covery, New York. Exhibition review, Museums & Social Issues (Print), Vol. 3 (1), 2008. 
2008: V1: The Riefenstahl Project, large format photo-newspaper.
2011:  Defensio, Limited edition hand-bound photo monograph. Self published, #50, sold out prior to print run  
2012: 59 Minutes (Polaroid portraits), USA artist, OFF International Foto Festival, Pisztory Palace, Bratislava.
2013: MPS Graduate Show, SVA Gramercy Gallery, Nov-Dec 2013, New York, NY.
2014: TYBALT (Silas Finch, New York) Limited edition hand bound print cine-zine. Private edition sold out prior to print run                            

2016:  SVA Group Show, Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY

2017: The 1&1ly Manual. limited edition book (forthcoming). Collaboration with Brad Knox, roboticist and machine learning specialist

Education:
MPS Masters in Fashion Photography, School of Visual Arts, New York, 2012-2013

Professional memberships:

World Photography Organization
American Society of Media Photographers
American Photographic Artists