Robert Vano

Life and work

He was born in Nové Zámky, Czechoslovakia, to parents of Hungarian descent. After his closing exams in 1967, instead of joining the armed forces for duty, he emigrated via Yugoslavia and Italy to the United States where he made a living as a hairdresser and makeup artist. Later on, he worked as an assistant for photographers (Horst P. Horst, Marco Glaviano or Leo Castelli).

Since 1984 he is an independent photographer. He worked in New York City, Paris, Milano and Prague, where photographed for fashion magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue.

Since 1995 he lives in Prague, where in 1996-2003 he worked as artistic director of the Czech edition of the Elle magazine, and then in 2009-2014 as creative director at Czechoslovak Models. Since then he has worked as a freelance photographer.

Robert Vano is primarily a fashion and commercial photographer. Photographs in black-and-white portraits and nudes on classic film and also now little-used technique of platinotype. He works with global brands, leading workshops "Daylight Nude". He prefers photographing in daylight.

In 2010 he was awarded the European Trebbia award for creative activities. He became famous among other things, photographing male nudes. He always liked the photos of an American photographer Bruce Weber.

Vano's largest exhibition called "The Platinum Collection", referencing his signature technique, took place in Prague's Mánes venue in 2009.

Publications