Sheila Metzner
(1939)

Sheila Metzner Biography
(1939)

Sheila Metzner is an acclaimed American photographer renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to fashion and fine art photography. She was the first female photographer to collaborate with Vogue magazine on an ongoing basis, establishing herself as a prominent figure in the industry. Metzner currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Metzner’s education began at the High School of Art and Design and later continued at Pratt Institute, where she studied visual communications. In the 1960s, she made history as the first woman to be promoted to art director at the prestigious advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach. During this time, she worked with notable photographers such as Richard Avedon, Melvin Sokolsky, Bob Richardson, and Diane Arbus, further shaping her career. Her photographic journey flourished in the 1970s when her work was featured in "Modern Art – Mirrors and Windows: American Photography Since 1960", which helped her gain recognition. Metzner’s early commercial clients included high-profile brands like Valentino, Elizabeth Arden, Perry Ellis, and Shiseido. Over the years, she worked with other prestigious names such as Fendi, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Ralph Lauren.

Her work is held in public collections at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Getty Museum. Metzner has published four monographs: "Objects of Desire", "Sheila Metzner’s Color", "Inherit the Earth", and "Form and Fashion", the latter showcasing two decades of her versatile work across fine art and fashion.