Jessica Backhaus (part 1) | Raw and Radical Women in the Arts

Celebrated and award-winning contemporary photographer Jessica Backhaus is here to talk about her artistic journey from being a child brought up around Art, to her photography studies, mentorship with Gisèle Freund, first assignments, and her current work as one of the most highly regarded contemporary photographers in Germany. She shares valuable insights and meditations on her career and being a woman in her field of work. Show Summary Jessica Backhaus has had a long career. So in this packed double-episode, we untangle the several aspects of Jessica’s life, roots, career, and passion. In Part 1, she talks about her childhood and novice experiences as a photographer: from being a student in Paris, to getting under the mentorship of iconic Gisèle Freund, her first professional assignments, moving to New York, and being a woman in a field of work that held strong stigma against women at the time Jessica started working. In Part 2, coming soon after, we will delve deeper into Jessica’s work, how she’s evolved along with her style, and the serendipitous accidents that led to her most recent installation. Conversation Highlights Part 1: Jessica’s upbringing: art, freedom and opportunities to explore and develop her passion Gisèle Freund, Jessica’s mentor A woman’s meditations and insights on over 20 years of a career in photography This podcast is supported by Pro Helvetia the Swiss arts council, the Republic and Canton of Geneva and the City of Lany in Switzerland.  For more information on our guest, this episode, or the podcast, please visit rawradical.com