Jaša Müller's pastel celebrity portraits blend digital and physical manipulation
Photographer Jaša Müller, known for his pastel-toned celebrity portraits, revealed his unique process in an interview with It's Nice That. His recent shoot for Paper Magazine featured star Ayo Edibiri in feathers and pastel chalk colors, evoking 1980s Interview Magazine covers. Müller's method involves minimal setup—a white background and steady light—followed by extensive post-production: he prints images, physically cuts into them, draws, and rephotographs to capture light on paper textures. He embraces accidents and layering until the image feels alive. Portraits remain central to his work, focusing on the human face as a playground for abstraction and imperfection. Müller describes his practice as personal, playful, tactile, and accidental, bringing surrealist color and magnetic character to celebrity imagery. His selected works are featured in a gallery on his website.
Key facts
- Jaša Müller is a fashion and portrait photographer.
- He shot Ayo Edibiri for Paper Magazine in pastel chalk colors and feathers.
- The shoot references 1980s Interview Magazine covers.
- Müller uses a minimal setup: white background and steady light.
- He prints images and physically manipulates them by cutting, drawing, and rephotographing.
- He embraces accidents and mistakes in his process.
- Portraits are central to his work, focusing on the human face.
- His selected works are available at jasamuller.com.
Entities
Artists
- Jaša Müller
- Ayo Edibiri
- Jennette Beckman
Institutions
- Paper Magazine
- It's Nice That
- Interview Magazine