Our Artist of the Week: Florian Innerkofler
We are always proud here at Addicted Art Gallery to announce a new addition to our complement of talented artists. And one of our latest – Canada’s very own Florian Innerkofler – has set out his stall as a contemporary photographer with formidable credentials in both commercial and high-art spheres, as demonstrated across what has already fast become an impressive career.
Born in 1977 to a Dutch mother and an Austrian father in the Austrian city of Innsbruck, Florian Innerkofler attended the city’s Higher School of Architecture, and it was during this period his photography journey effectively began.
Sure enough, Florian went on to study at the State School of Photography – from which he graduated cum laude – before moving to Vienna.
A sprawling global journey in more ways than one…
To date, one of the most notable aspects of Florian’s career has been his willingness to do more than a spot of globetrotting in search of the assignments that have helped fuel his creative practice.
This eagerness helped put him in touch with photographic luminaries including Andreas H. Bitesnich and Greg Gorman during the earlier stages of his career. It is a tendency that sustains him today, as he tackles projects in such wide-ranging corners of the world as New York City, Tokyo, the remote Arctic Circle, and almost anywhere else one could care to mention.
On location: Sintra Air Base, Portugal
Along the way, Florian has picked up quite the list of credits, distinguishing himself for clients and publications including Vogue Beauty, Marie Claire, Glamour, L’Oréal Paris, Rimmel London, Universal Music, AEZ Wheels, and the Silhouette eyewear brand.
It is fascinating, however, to see the ongoing creative ‘conversation’ between the parallel and frequently complementary worlds in which the photographer operates.
Just recently, for instance, his artwork was featured in the Style section of leading Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, underlining his adeptness in serving up captivating aesthetics to those who might not consider themselves fully acquainted with ‘Art with a capital A’.
But if “Art with a capital A” is your thing…
...well, Florian has the looks – and lots of them. It is abundantly clear in his recent photographic series, the starkly monochromatic Black White Black – which shows he isn’t shy to play around with the relationships between positive and negative.
Left to Right: BWB Profilo, BWB Silhouette, BWB The Grid and BWB Mane, 2022
The collection ranks highly among our favourites here at Addicted Art Gallery, the innovation and verve in relation to compositional elements of shape, line, and colour showcasing his creative inexhaustibility.
Speaking of exhibitions, the burgeoning photographer has already had a fair few of those. While much of that facet of his practice has thus far centred on the happening Canadian city of Toronto in which he is now based – he has also taken the chance of extending his visibility across international borders. You might have caught sight of his works at in the historic centre of Florence, Italy just last year.
Then, there is the not-insignificant matter of Florian Innerkofler’s flowering relationship with our humble selves here at Addicted Art Gallery. It is a linkup that has already delivered the virtually accessible The Art of Seeing: The Photography of Florian Innerkofler, which commenced on 31st March 2023 and runs until 30th June. Viewable from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, the exhibition could be the ideal way for you to get… well, addicted to Florian’s work.
The Art Of Seeing: The Photography of Florian Innerkofler
“It’s about creating an emotion, a feeling, a memory…”
With his limited-edition prints seeing brisk demand, Florian Innerkofler has firmly established himself as an art photographer who looks well beyond the notion of photography as mere documentation – as crucial as said documentation is.
Instead, he is determined to create works embodying the spirit of a moment that a photograph can capture. Or, to put it in his own words: “It’s about creating an emotion, a feeling, a memory”.
SHANGHAI MIRAGE, China, 2022
The moment in which our world presently finds itself is undoubtedly one fraught with emotion and feeling – not least a sense that the world of contemporary art might seem almost dangerously frivolous and superficial at times. So, Florian values his photographic practice being a socially mindful one, too.
It is a consciousness that has moved him to take the limited actions he can from his Toronto studio at a time when war is unfolding on the other side of the Atlantic. As we type this, Florian continues to donate part of his sales proceeds to UNHCR, supporting the people of Ukraine.
It is an endeavour that we are proud to support him in here at Addicted Art Gallery, as we look forward to further building a relationship with this immensely capable artist that is as promising as his photographic practice itself.
AWAITING, Vienna, Austria, 2011
Written for Addicted Art Gallery by Precise English