Born on December 3, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leiter developed a passion for art in his teenage years. He originally planned to become a rabbi like his father, but moved to New York at the age of 22 to dedicate himself to visual art. From 1957 onwards, Leiter earned his living as a fashion photographer, later opening a studio for portrait, fashion and advertising photography (1963). After the closure of his studio in 1981, he focused almost entirely on his personal work. It was only towards the end of his life that Leiter’s œuvre received wide recognition through exhibitions, books and a documentary film. The artist passed away at his home in New York on November 26, 2013, a few days before his 90th birthday.
