Photographer Joseph Cultice: 'You have everything you need'

Joseph Cultice is a pop-star photographer whose love of the rock and roll lifestyle is apparent in his iconic images. “You know, the one of Marilyn Manson naked, sans penis, with boobs? I had something to do with that,” says Cultice, who, in the above video provides a first-person narrated account of his career. He is at once a big kid still charged from the thrill of shooting the Meat Puppets (his first big break) and a frustrated commercial artist ready to regain the creative control he once exercised before the industry became more formulaic.

In his 20-year career, the 2001 Art Director’s Club Young Guns winner has photographed Marilyn Manson, Bjork, Beck, Patti Smith, Nine Inch Nails, Ozzy Osbourne, and many more for publications including Vogue and Rolling Stone.  

But four years ago, he and his family moved from New York to LA, where he sought a transition into more personal projects. He cites as pivotal the moment when he discovered street artist Deedee Cheriel’s poster of a person with a bear head and the text, “You have everything you need.”

The outcome is a series of severely personal photographs called The Garden that dramatically documents Cultice’s family life. “I can no longer hide behind a pop star’s image to express myself. I love being exposed.”

Cultice’s debut gallery show is presented at Baang + Burne gallery in Chelsea, New York City.

—-

Boys Don’t Cry
Artists: Joseph Cultice, Chris Jehly, Rich Tu
Baang + Burne
Oct 4 - Nov 8, Weds - Sun, 11-6pm
548 W 28th St #238, btw 10/11th St., NYC

Visit Joseph at:
www.josephcultice.com

“You Have Everything You Need” Poster by Deedee Cheriel