Scarlett Coten France, b. 1959

Scarlett Coten is a French photographer renowned for her explorations of identity and masculinity through intimate portraits that challenge stereotypes and cultural expectations. Her artistic practice favors a documentary, immersive approach, enriched with a fictional dimension inspired by the cinematic universe, circumventing genre conventions particularly through her use of staging and carefully chosen, natural settings.

 

She employs a distinctive style, blending vibrant colors and thoughtful compositions to create images that are both aesthetically captivating and deeply meaningful. Each photograph invites the viewer to reflect on the complexities of identity and social dynamics. Drawing from her experiences as a woman in society and as an artist, her work offers a unique perspective on both personal and universal issues, such as art, power, the traditional divide between author and subject, and the real versus the imaginary.

 

Her work has been widely exhibited and published. In 2016, she received the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, highlighting the impact of her contribution to contemporary photography.