I have been working since the 1980s, relocating from Glasgow to Hamburg, Germany in 1994 where I was impacted by Hamburg’s permissive and neon-lit St. Pauli district and its infamous Reeperbahn. It was during this period - in 1998 - that I would meet Alex and make the images that would come together to form my first artist book Alex & Me/Danilo Montanari Editore (2016). 1998 would also see my first visit to Japan - a country that continues to inspire me. Moving to London in 2001 I continued to work and exhibit my projects while still working commercially. During this period, I was introduced to the artist Banksy and documented the artist at work in his then London studio and created two portrait works for his book Wall and Piece/Random House (2005). In 2007 the National Portrait Gallery in London acquired one of the portrait works, Banksy, Monkey Mask Session, (Tag), London, 2003. I am the author of many other portraits including Eric Clapton, George Best, Malcolm McLaren, Daphne Guinness and Sean Ono Lennon. My editorial clients include, amongst others, Vanity Fair, GQ, ELLE, The Wire, Monocle and The Face. Vogue, Rolling Stone and Playboy magazines have featured my work. Advertising, fashion and design clients include Nike (Wieden+Kennedy), First Direct (JWT), Clements Riberio, Courrèges, The Groucho Club and The Michelberger Hotel.

In 2015 I returned to Scotland, to Glasgow's west end, where I now live and work. 

I teach photography part-time at the City of Glasgow College and am a mentor to both the New Photographers Guild (in association with Street Level Photoworks), Glasgow and The Cultural Enterprise Office, Glasgow.

In 2018 I had my first major solo show (Alex & Me) at Street Level Photoworks during Glasgow International (GI). The exhibition was nominated for The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2019. A work from the show, my wall composition with neon Alex & Me - Ever Been Changed By Someone? was awarded The Emma Herman-Smith Environmental Art Award for an artwork of merit in environmental art. During this time, I also published my first artist edition Alex & Me - Coda/Danilo Montanari Editore. 

2021 would see my first public art work Returning And Into Your Arms unveiled at Glasgow Cathedral for COP26 and beyond.

James Pfaff

British

Main

Artist

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Banksy, Canvas Session, (Enlarged Contact Sheet), London, 2004 (Large)