Jessica Backhaus

Jessica Backhaus (b. 1970, Germany/USA) is one of the most recognized voices in contemporary photography in Germany today. Known for her distinct approach to color, light, and abstraction, her work bridges the gap between photography and painting, creating images that feel both precise and intuitive.

At the age of sixteen, she moved to Paris, where she later studied photography and visual communications. In 1995 she relocated to New York for 15 years, where she  pursued her own projects and developed her artistic voice. Her early work was rooted in documentary and figurative photography, often exploring everyday objects and intimate moments with a poetic sensibility. Over time, her artistic evolution led her toward abstraction, a transition marked by her series A Trilogy and Cut Outs, culminating in her latest project, Plein Soleil.

Backhaus’ work has been exhibited internationally in renowned institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery in London, Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, MARTa Herford and Kunsthalle Erfurt. Her photographs are part of major collections, including the Deutsche Bank Art Collection, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Margulies Collection in Miami, and the Art Collection Deutsche Börse in Frankfurt. (Website, Instagram)