Thomas Werner: From Fashion Photography to Fine Art and Publishing

Thomas Werner, a Santa Fe-based photographer, author, curator, and educator, discusses his multifaceted career in a recent interview. Werner's journey began with a passion for photography sparked by motorcycle trips in college, leading him to study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and later earn an MFA from Long Island University. He worked as a fashion photographer in New York, owned a gallery in Chelsea, directed the photography program at Parsons School for Design, and served as a cultural representative for the US Department of State. Werner has authored several books, including 'The Business of Fine Art Photography' (Routledge) and 'The Fashion Image' (Bloomsbury), and co-authored 'Twenty One Summers' with Derrick Connell, former Microsoft Search and AI team leader. He is an editor at large for IRK magazine and a board member of the Santa Fe Center for Photographic Arts, which offers $16,000 in annual grants and hosts Review Santa Fe, a portfolio review event connecting artists with over 40 international curators and publishers. Werner's work has been reviewed in the New Yorker, and he has moderated panels, including one at Review Santa Fe in November 2025. He recently relaunched the Twenty One Summers podcast, featuring interviews with gallerists and creative leaders. Werner emphasizes the importance of evolving with social and technological changes, and he continues to create personally satisfying work while advising artists on navigating the art market.