Russel Wong

Russel Wong is one of the most prolific fashion and portrait photographers in Singapore and Asia. Renowned for his portraits of celebrities, he has been referred to as the "Richard Avedon of Asia."

Biography of Russel Wong

Russel Wong was born in 1963 in Singapore. He received his primary and secondary education at Anglo-Chinese School and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, Eugene.

He first gained prominence in 1980 when his photograph of track-and-field athlete Sebastian Coe was featured on the cover of Track & Field News. His early sports photography was noted for its spontaneous and adrenaline-charged quality.

In 1984, Wong enrolled at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles to pursue a fine art degree in Photography, where he met fashion designer and photographer Paul Jasmin and fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez. This experience led him to his first foray into fashion photography during a four-month trip to Milan, Italy.

In the late 1980s, Wong returned to Singapore to establish his photographic studio, Russel Wong Photography. His distinctive style, which offered a unique branding and artistic interpretation of the elusive "Asian identity," soon attracted clients such as TIME, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times.

He has gained international recognition as the first Singaporean to break into the Hollywood movie industry. Wong is part of an elite group of photographers who have been assigned to photograph covers for Time magazine, with 17 covers to his credit. Wong’s photographs have captured the likenesses of celebrities like Richard Gere, Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Isabella Rossellini. His prints have also been sold at the prestigious Christie's auction house.

Russel Wong's Art Style

Russel Wong's art style encompasses a wide range of subjects, including fashion, portraiture, still-life compositions, architecture, nudes, landscapes, and conceptual pieces. He is renowned for his celebrity portraits, yet his portfolio also includes compelling images of lesser-known subjects. Wong's work in the film industry involves creating images for movie posters and publicity materials, reflecting his versatility and skill in capturing both still and dynamic visual narratives. His photographs are noted for their meticulous composition, attention to detail, and ability to convey the essence of his subjects, whether they are people, objects, or scenes.