Hannes Schmid

Overview
Hannes Schmid

Swiss artist Hannes Schmid was most sought after for his extraordinary photos until he taught himself to paint them to look like photographs on canvas. Born in 1946 to Swiss parents, he trained as an electrician, but found his true calling in photography, as a way of bearing witness to his curious eye and unwavering determination to seek out the truth. Some of his most recognized works include the iconic Marlboro Man.

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Works
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 54, 2015
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 54, 2015
    Oil on canvas
    47 1/4 by 78 3/4 inches (120 by 200 cm)
    Framed: 50 1/2 by 82 inches (128 by 208 cm)
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 14 (on the fence), 2014
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 14 (on the fence), 2014
    Oil on canvas
    46 by 65 5/8 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 102, 2013
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 102, 2013
    Oil on canvas
    71 1/4 by 55 1/2 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy #11, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy #11, 2012
    Charcoal on paper
    31 1/2 by 47 1/4 inches
    Framed: 40 1/4 by 56 1/4 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy #14, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy #14, 2012
    Charcoal on paper
    47 by 28 inches
    Framed: 58 by 39 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy #2, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy #2, 2012
    Charcoal on paper
    31 1/2 by 47 1/4 inches
    Framed: 40 1/2 by 56 1/4 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy #3, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy #3, 2012
    Charcoal on paper
    31 1/2 by 47 1/4 inches
    Framed: 42 1/4 by 57 3/4 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy #5, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy #5, 2012
    Charcoal on paper
    31 1/2 by 47 1/4 inches
    Framed: 40 1/4 by 56 1/4 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 01, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 01, 2012
    Oil on canvas
    46 by 70 inches
    117 by 177 cm
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 24, 2012
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 24, 2012
    Oil on canvas
    70 x 46 inches
    177 x 117 cm
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 19, 2008
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 19, 2008
    Oil on canvas
    46 by 65 5/8 inches
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 205
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 205
    Chromogenic print
    30 by 45 inches
    Edition of 10
  • Hannes Schmid, Cowboy 02 (poker), 2014
    Hannes Schmid
    Cowboy 02 (poker), 2014
    Oil on canvas
    72 5/6 by 48 1/4 inches
Biography
Hannes Schmid
Swiss artist Hannes Schmid is most sought after for his extraordinary photo-essays. Born in 1946 to Swiss parents, he was trained as an electrician, but found his true calling in photography while travelling on a work trip in South Africa. Largely self-taught, yet a consummate master of the medium, his decades-spanning works are sans pareil unconventional and recognized in various genres of photography. Photography is Hannes’s way of bearing witness to his curious eye and unwavering determination to seek out the truth. Some of his most recognized works include the iconic Marlboro Man, Rockstars, For Gods Only, and Human Currents which have been exhibited at various galleries and museums. In recent years, he has delved into a variety of art forms to create a provocative body of work, which includes transforming his Marlboro Man onto the canvas and a social sculpture, taking place in Cambodia. Despite having earned various nominations and awards (including an Honorary Doctorate bestowed on Hannes by the University of Zurich), Hannes belongs to a category of artists that goes beyond the confines of traditional photography. The larger part of his archive now sits in his atelier, waiting to be discovered.
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