artist/ Laurent Askienazy
France
Born in 1970, Laurent Askienazy grew up in Paris. He discovered photography as a teenager, thanks to his father, who set up a small darkroom in the bathroom of the family’s apartment. With his father’s guidance, he learned the basics of black-and-white film development and printing, learning to shape images as much as to view them. After studying painting, the young man chose to pursue photography, which opened his eyes to the power of images, how to construct them, and their evocative potential.
His encounters and friendships in Paris’s cultural scene led him into the worlds of publishing and music. He collaborated with Flammarion on book covers and published in the magazine “Technikart”. He met the writer and publisher Guillaume Dustan, for whom he created several book covers, and later those for the collection Dustan edited. He also designed numerous album covers for the jazz label “For Musicians Only”.
Throughout his projects, Laurent Askienazy explores various mediums and techniques, ranging from manual, analog film photography to the latest digital tools. It was therefore only natural that, starting in 2023, he became interested in artificial intelligence, which he sees as a source of boundless energy and possibilities. A new chapter in his career begins, along with a new way of working: It all starts with a vision, which the artist outlines in the form of a brief, detailed scenario (ranging from a few lines to several pages). A dialogue then ensues with the artificial intelligence, during which, through a series of back-and-forth exchanges, he refines the atmosphere and the staging. Then comes the lengthy post-production process on the computer, involving retouching, additions, and deletions… The final step: the work is printed in the traditional manner on photo paper.
This new series has captivated and caused a stir on social media. In 2024, he met Thomas Tournemine, who began exhibiting his work in galleries and at art fairs. His works have graced the covers of several magazines; he designed the poster for the Variations festival at Le Lieu Unique in Nantes; and in 2025, he directed the music video for the song “Aerial Troubles” by the cult Franco-British band Stereolab.
