MARIO TESTINO

Mario Testino is widely regarded as one of the most influential fashion and portrait photographers of our time. Her photographs have been published in the most prestigious magazines, exhibited in world-renowned galleries and museums and contributed to the success of major fashion and beauty houses, creating iconic images for luxury brands. After an incredible 40-year career, Testino has documented subjects from stars, supermodels and artists, as well as international royal families. He notably immortalized Diana, Princess of Wales for Vanity Fair just before her death in 1997. Testino is known for the extraordinary way he captures the most private moments, creating intimate portraits that show a new perspective of famous faces.
 
Of Peruvian origin, the son of a businessman, the young Mario Testino wants to embrace a priestly vocation and wishes to be ordained a priest. He changed his mind having the intuition that his vocation was elsewhere, and flew to London in 1976 where he learned the profession of photographer and began his career there. To make himself known and earn some money, he offers little-known models to create a portfolio for them for 25 pounds sterling. Besides, he earns his living by chaining odd jobs, in particular a waiter. He dyed his hair pink and gradually got noticed in the fashion world for his graphic and well-polished shots. His name is known to the biggest stars even though he is not yet 30 years old. He collaborates with celebrities, actors and artists of the moment. Madonna boosts her career by hiring her for her own marketing campaigns. Mario Testino is then employed by the house of Gianni Versace, who does not hesitate to recommend him in the fashion world. Acclaimed by all, the photographer is also requested by the royal family to immortalize Princess Diana. Mario Testino continues with other crowned heads, such as Rania of Jordan or Prince Charles. Today, his work is known for its audacity and for its unusual ad campaigns. More than twenty exhibitions and books have been dedicated to him.

Testino has an artistic vocabulary that crosses culture and gender, blends masculinity and femininity, and photographs all people and places with the same vision. The result is an incredible body of work documenting a kaleidoscopic catalog of civilizations around the world. Testino has done many works as a creative director, publisher, art collector, philanthropist and museum founder in Lima. MATE - The Museo Mario Testino was created in 2012 with the aim of contributing to the promotion of South American culture and heritage in his country, Peru.
 
A recipient of the Order of the British Empire in 2013 in recognition of his career and charity, he was also appointed in 2010 to one of his home country's highest honours, the Order of Merit of the Grand Cross in Peru, and became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Monuments Fund in Peru in 2014. In 2017, Mario Testino was honored with the Legion of Honor. Alongside his career as a photographer, Mario Testino works for charities, including Save the Children, AmfAR, the Elton John Aids Foundation and CLIC Sargent.

In October 2016, Mario Testino opened the Parques Teresita play park in association with Natalia Vodianova, founder of the Naked Heart Foundation, to work towards building a society open to people with disabilities with special needs, encouraging play and by creating free support services for disadvantaged families. In 2019, a second Parques Teresita was launched in Ayacucho, in the municipality of Huamanga.

With series such as Beauty and the Beast, his portraits of princes and princesses, editorials in castles, legendary women on vaporous lakes or on the sets of dreamlike universes, Mario Testino knew how to inspire his creativity with tales and legends. while bringing new creativity.