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Bettina Rheims's Photographic Portrait Practice Since the Late 1970s

artist · 2026-04-23

Bettina Rheims began focusing on photography, particularly portraiture, in the late 1970s. Previously, she worked as a model at age 20 and later co-founded a contemporary art gallery. Her career shift marked a dedicated exploration of portrait photography.

Key facts

  • Bettina Rheims started concentrating on photography in the late 1970s
  • She specialized almost exclusively in portraiture
  • Rheims was a model at age 20
  • She co-created a contemporary art gallery
  • Her photographic work began in the late 1970s
  • Portraiture became her primary focus
  • She transitioned from modeling to gallery co-founding to photography
  • Her career spans modeling, gallery work, and photography

Entities

Artists

  • Bettina Rheims

Sources