Paolo Costa
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Biography
*1917 in Lugo di Ravenna, Italy ✝ 1981 in Munich, Germany
Paolo Costa studied political science and philosophy at the Universities of Bologna and Venice. After working as a journalist for ten years, he began his career as a photographer in 1951, documenting the everyday lives of people in Italy—characterized by his close affinity with his subjects and their individual stories.
The Italian photographer became particularly well known for his iconic portraits of famous personalities, which reflect the Dolce Vita era of the 1950s and 1960s. His subjects included Claudia Cardinale, Gina Lollobrigida, Brigitte Bardot, Anna Magnani, Marcello Mastroianni, Federico Fellini, Henry Fonda, Luciano Pavarotti and many others. Costa became a sought-after photographer for celebrities, with nearly every figure of prominence and fame having their portrait taken by him.
Costa's portfolio consists of approximately 550 cover photos published worldwide.
The Archivio Paolo Costa was founded by his daughter Alexandra Pfründer in 2023. Inheriting his extensive photographic collection is a meticulous task of cataloging and digitizing the archive. Gallery Clara Maria Sels is looking forward to this new cooperation.
