Josef Koudelka's Authorized Biography 'Next' Published by Aperture and Magnum Foundation

Josef Koudelka: Next, the sole authorized biography of the photographer, was published on November 21, 2023, by Aperture and Magnum Foundation. This 352-page paperback, featuring 282 images, spans Koudelka's six-decade career, from early theater work to his coverage of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Prague and his Roma project. Writer Melissa Harris conducted hundreds of hours of interviews over nearly a decade, incorporating insights from Koudelka's friends and collaborators. The visual design was a collaboration with Czech designer Aleš Najbrt. Koudelka, born in Moravia, Czech Republic, in 1938, is a Magnum Photos member and recipient of awards including the Prix Nadar and Hasselblad Foundation International Award. His exhibitions have been held at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Hayward Gallery in London. Harris, editor-at-large of Aperture and former editor-in-chief of Aperture magazine, teaches at New York University and Yale University. The book includes biographical and behind-the-scenes images, offering an intimate look at Koudelka's life and artistic evolution. Praise for the biography comes from sources such as Design Observer and Magnum Photos, with Paul Wilson of Plastic People of the Universe calling it a 'thrilling and compelling portrait.'