Born in Brooklyn in 1946, Bruce Gilden is an iconic street photographer, renowned for his unique and striking style.

From his childhood, he was fascinated by urban life, and the street quickly became his creative playground. After studying sociology at Penn State University, which he abandoned due to lack of interest, Gilden turned to photography in 1967, a choice that would mark the beginning of a legendary career.

His style is distinguished by his close proximity to his subjects and his use of flash, creating dynamic and intense images, often in black and white. His direct and uncompromising approach to the faces of passersby in the streets of New York, New Orleans, and Japan has earned him worldwide renown. Gilden has often mentioned the influence of Robert Capa on his method: If your photos aren't good enough, it's because you're not close enough. "He applies this principle with rare audacity, capturing the raw essence of his subjects in moments of sometimes disturbing truth."

A self-taught photographer, he only attended a few evening classes at the School of Visual Arts in New York. His career took a new turn in 1998 when he joined Magnum Photos. His long-term projects, undertaken in locations as diverse as Haiti, France, and India, have contributed to the expansion of his photographic universe. In 2013, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the many awards that have marked his career.

Gilden is a photographer whose visceral and human work has been exhibited in the world's leading museums, including MoMA in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. His critical eye on marginalized communities continues to inform his current projects, as evidenced by his 2022 book, Black Country. More than five decades after his debut, Bruce Gilden remains a key figure in street photography, constantly seeking new stories to capture.

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