Sylvie Blum’s Wild Beauty:
A Retrospective Collection of Unseen Masterpieces
Wild Beauty, the highly anticipated new book by acclaimed photographer Sylvie Blum, unveils a captivating retrospective spanning the last 15-years of her work in fine art photography.This striking collection of images from diverse locations such as South Africa, Namibia,Thailand, and the California desert, explores the profound relationship between the female form and the natural world. Many of the photographs showcased in Wild Beauty are part of the permanent collection and exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Bangkok.
Sylvie Blum, best known for her innovative compositions and fearless exploration of the human body, draws on the iconic nude photography of the 1920s and 30s, capturing body fragments and torsos with sculptural elegance.Through meticulous lighting her images evoke a timeless beauty that transcends traditional notions of form and symmetry. Blum’s artistic philosophy is simple and uplifting: “A naked body is endlessly exciting and timeless. My art shows the inner and outer beauty of a woman. Beauty is everywhere, and everyone is beautiful in front of my camera.”
This philosophy permeates Wild Beauty, with each image capturing both strength and grace in its subjects. One of the standout series in the book is the“Animal Series,” which merges the strong female bodies with wildlife. “Animals act natural,” Blum explains. “Some, like snakes, birds, and tigers, are constantly moving. I have to be quick to capture the model and animal together to fulfill my vision.”
Austrian-born artist Sylvie Blum has had a lifelong passion for art, photography, fashion, filmmaking and design. Starting her career as a successful model for 16 years, she worked with iconic photographers like Helmut Newton before transitioning to photography herself. After meeting legendary photographer Günter Blum († 1997) in 1991, who became both her husband and mentor, she honed her skills in light, composition, and darkroom techniques across a range of vintage and modern cameras. Known for her sensual, sculptural nudes, Sylvie blends classic aesthetics with modern sensibilities. Over her career, she has published five art books, exhibited in museums and galleries such as Fahey/Klein Gallery.
Sylvie Blum’s sixth book Wild Beauty, features 224 pages with over 200 stunning black-and-white and color images, including behind-the-scenes photos and sketches, all presented in a high-quality 4C prints in hardcover, showing the depth and artistry of her unique visions. This fine art book is printed in Italy.
Edited by David Fahey and Nicholas Fahey
224 Pages, over 200 B/W and color images in 4C print
Hard Cover 9.5” x 12.6” (24 x 32 cm)
Published by Duke 1587 Press, 2025
Wild Beauty will be available in May in the US at Fahey/Klein Gallery.