Stan Malinowski : MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Stan Malinowski is best known for his fashion photography work in the 1980’s, a period in which the photographer straddled two worlds: the unadulterated, playful, sexy world of Playboy and Penthouse and the polished, glamourous-yet-dark world of glossy fashion magazines. 

The 80’s were a complicated time in fashion and the world at large, with glossy magazines reflecting both the “more is more,” “greed is good,” attitude that took over the United States and the uncertainty and social upheaval marked by the Cold War, a widening wealth gap, and the AIDS epidemic. The fashion images of the time are equal measures polished and edgy, a tension which Stan excelled at capturing.

Born and raised in Chicago, Stan began taking photography seriously in college, where his broad interests led him to study engineering, psychology and photography. The photographer would skip class to shoot for Playboy, which was headquartered in Chicago. The college student soon amassed a stack of magazines featuring his work, which lent him enough credibility to be hired as the art director for the first issue of Hustler.

Hungry for more, Stan moved to New York where photographer and Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione championed him, giving him several assignments on their first meeting. However, as time wore on Stan grew increasingly restless, burning to shoot high fashion.

Stan’s wish was fulfilled when one day the photographer came home to a message to call Vogue. This phone call would mark a turning point in Stan’s career, ushering in a period when Vogue’s Alexander Lieberman and Bazaar Italia’s Lizzette Kattan would nurture Stan’s career, seeing his photos plastered in Vogue and Bazaar and in campaigns for Clinique, Cover Girl, Maybelline, and Valentino.