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Life is a Circus
Life is a Circus
Ellen von Unwerth
January 30, 2026
Ellen von Unwerth: Pop Goes the Weasel, Eva Green, Paris, 2013
Ellen von Unwerth (b. 1954 in Germany) originally worked as a model before moving to the other side of the camera. Today, the Paris-based artist ranks among the most influential and creative photographers of our time.
With the showcase My Circus, the Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof presents 160 iconic images in which femininity, playfulness, eroticism and fashion take centre stage. The stylish photographs – featuring models as well as personalities from the pop culture and music scene – were created for high-profile fashion brands and leading publications, along with Ellen von Unwerth’s VON magazine and various photo books.
Among the exhibits are pictures of a young Claudia Schiffer, with which Ellen von Unwerth achieved her first breakthrough as a photographer. Vibrant colour works alternate with striking black-and-white portraits of supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, as well as celebrities such as RuPaul, Beyoncé, Madonna, Miley Cyrus or Rihanna. At the heart of the showcase are intimate shots from the artist’s first monograph, Snaps (1994). Two videos further complement the presentation.
The magical atmosphere of the circus forms the common thread of the exhibition – inspired by the photographer’s lifelong fascination with this cultural phenomenon. In fact, in her youth, von Unwerth spent three years working at the Circus Roncalli in Munich, assisting the knife thrower and the clown. In My Circus, this theme is reflected in the exuberant use of colour, the theatrical compositions, and the dynamic character of the photographs.
Katrin UllmannWith the showcase My Circus, the Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof presents 160 iconic images in which femininity, playfulness, eroticism and fashion take centre stage. The stylish photographs – featuring models as well as personalities from the pop culture and music scene – were created for high-profile fashion brands and leading publications, along with Ellen von Unwerth’s VON magazine and various photo books.
Among the exhibits are pictures of a young Claudia Schiffer, with which Ellen von Unwerth achieved her first breakthrough as a photographer. Vibrant colour works alternate with striking black-and-white portraits of supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, as well as celebrities such as RuPaul, Beyoncé, Madonna, Miley Cyrus or Rihanna. At the heart of the showcase are intimate shots from the artist’s first monograph, Snaps (1994). Two videos further complement the presentation.
The magical atmosphere of the circus forms the common thread of the exhibition – inspired by the photographer’s lifelong fascination with this cultural phenomenon. In fact, in her youth, von Unwerth spent three years working at the Circus Roncalli in Munich, assisting the knife thrower and the clown. In My Circus, this theme is reflected in the exuberant use of colour, the theatrical compositions, and the dynamic character of the photographs.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Ellen von Unwerth
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Ellen von Unwerth+-
Ellen von Unwerth, born in 1954, is a german fashion photographer, filmmaker and video director. Her work has been collected in numerous books and photo-novellas. Her photographs have been widely exhibited internationally and her work has been honoured with numerous awards. An ever-growing celebrity list includes some of the biggest names in fashion, art, music and design. More
Ellen von Unwerth: Pop Goes the Weasel, Eva Green, Paris, 2013
Ellen von Unwerth: C'mon Fly, New York, 1997
Ellen von Unwerth: Jump baby Jump!,, St. Raphaël, 2012
Ellen von Unwerth: The Gang, Paris, 2021