Fabien Baron (born July 5, 1959) is a French director,
art director
Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games.
It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...
and magazine
editor
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...
. He is best known for his iconic ad campaigns and work as editorial director of
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...
's ''
Interview
An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a Departments of France, département in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region, Northern France. It covers Paris's western inner Banlieue, suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the e ...
, France, the son of a Parisian newspaper designer. Baron went to the
École des Arts Appliqués
École may refer to:
* an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée)
* École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France
* École, Sav ...
where he studied design, sculpture and painting.
In 1982 Baron moved to New York and became an art director for
Barneys
Barneys New York Inc. is an American luxury brand founded in New York City in 1923. It has introduced major designers including Armani, Azzedine Alaïa, Comme des Garçons, Christian Louboutin, and Ermenegildo Zegna to the US market.
Barneys N ...
.
Six years later, Baron went on to reinvent ''
Italian Vogue
''Vogue Italia'' is the Italian edition of ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'' magazine. Owned by Condé Nast International, it has been called the top fashion magazine in the world. It's been in publication since 1964.
Name
''Vogue Italia'' was first ...
'' under editor
Franca Sozzani
Franca Sozzani (; 20 January 1950 – 22 December 2016) was an Italian journalist and the editor-in-chief of ''Vogue Italia'' from 1988 until her death in 2016.
Biography
Sozzani was born and grew up in Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy. She stu ...
.
Baron joined ''
Harper's Bazaar
''Harper's Bazaar'' is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. It was first published in New York City on November 2, 1867, as the weekly ''Harper's Bazar''. ''Harper's Bazaar'' is published by Hearst and considers itself to be the st ...
'' in 1992 as
creative director
A creative director (or creative supervisor) is a person who makes high-level creative decisions and, with those decisions, oversees the creation of creative assets such as advertisements, products, events, or logos. Creative director positions ar ...
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein (born November 19, 1942) is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc., in 1968. In addition to clothing, he also has given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and ...
for what would be the next 20 years as creative director for the brand.
Also that same year in 1992, Baron designed
Madonna's
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
''
Sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones (ova, oft ...
'' book photographed by
Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel (born June 5, 1954) is an American fashion photographer, who obtained popularity and critical acclaim with his work in ''Vogue'' and ''Vogue Italia'' as well as his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book, ''Sex''. He is n ...
. Baron shot and directed the documentary, ''Sex'' featuring Madonna. The documentary was released alongside her album ''
Erotica
Erotica is literature or art that deals substantively with subject matter that is erotic, sexually stimulating or sexually arousing. Some critics regard pornography as a type of erotica, but many consider it to be different. Erotic art may use a ...
'', Baron
directed
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''Di ...
the music video for the title track that was banned by
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
.
Baron would continue to direct commercials for Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi and Guerlain and in 2003 joined Carine Roitfield at ''French Vogue'', she brought him on as creative director to redesign the magazine and "it became perhaps the most influential fashion publication in the world."
In 2008, Baron was asked to become editorial director and re-envision ''Interview'' when Peter Brant took full control of the magazine.
Baron's controversial first cover of a "silvery Kate Moss as the devil" in a studded face mask shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott garnered attention. The "metallic" cover was an homage to The Factory, Warhol's New York studio. ''Interview'' made worldwide headlines in December 2013 for Claire Danes' topless cover photo, shot by Baron. The accompanying article was written by Dustin Hoffman. Baron's decision to put Kanye West on the cover in February 2014 stirred up controversy again with a raw blend of dark imagery and religious undertones shot by Steven Klein. West's cover story was written by Steve McQueen.
Other notable Interview stories photographed by Baron include, "Honor" (November 2012), "Done Undone" (August 2013), "The Beauty Within", (September 2013), "Giorgio Armani la Femme Bleue", (March 2011), and "The Goddesses" from The Model Issue which released eight different covers, (September 2013).
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Baron talked about the magazine, "One thing about Interview that I really enjoy is to work with all these amazing people, all these amazing actors and being able to direct them… and have them on shoots and convince them to do things maybe they wouldn't do otherwise."
Baron & Baron, Inc.
Baron is the founder and CCO of Baron & Baron, Inc., a boutique advertising agency specializing in fashion, fragrance and cosmetics luxury brands. He has "shaped the visual identities" of global brands like Calvin Klein, Givenchy, Fendi, and Michael Kors by creating the right mix of television, digital and print campaigns, product and packaging design. Baron creative directed the re-launch of Burberry and had a long stint working with Balenciaga during Nicolas Ghesquière's tenure. Baron has "created lucrative perfumes for half a dozen designers, including Giorgio Armani."
Baron began working with Calvin Klein in the early 1990s and creative directed the brand's first campaign for CKOne, featuring Kate Moss, shot by Steven Meisel. Baron designed the now iconic bottle for CKOne, the first "unisex" fragrance. "CKOne, A Fragrance for Everyone." Baron then directed the follow up, CKOne ‘You're the One', working with his frequent collaborator, cinematographer
Harris Savides
Harris Savides (; Greek: Χάρης Σαββίδης; September 28, 1957 – October 9, 2012)Weber, BrucHarris Savides, Visual Poet, Dies at 55''New York Times'', October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012. was an American cinematographer. Not ...
to create a continuous camera move traveling through a house filled with futuristic 'it-kids' to reveal they were housed in a CKOne Bottle at the end.
In 2008 Baron directed a commercial for Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession fragrance featuring a nude Eva Mendes. U.S. TV networks refused to air without edit changes, and after revisions it still could not air on TV until after 9 p.m. Mendes was reportedly "thrilled" to be too "saucy" for TV.
In 2013 Calvin Klein aired its first Super Bowl ad. Baron directed the commercial that featured underwear model and the "young face of Calvin Klein", Matthew Terry, who became an overnight sensation. Later that year Baron collaborated with David Fincher on the Calvin Klein 'Downtown' Campaign featuring Rooney Mara.
In August 2019, Fabien Baron and
Karl Templer Karl Templer is a British-born New York-based fashion stylist. He is creative director of Interview and his work has appeared in publications internationally including Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, W, and The New York Times. Templer has styled brand c ...
became the new creative directors of
Ports 1961
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Baron refers to the "old fashioned" education he received from his father, "… we were going to exhibits together.. we were looking at books and a lot of pictures.. the whole art history.. he taught me a lot.. so I had a very classic education in visual arts."
"My dad was doing more of the journalistic side of art direction, for newspapers, and I was really intrigued by the machine of it all, the pace. There were no computers at the time, just huge linotype machines that weighed tons and used metal plates. There was an adrenaline rush about it all."
Reception
Baron has been called by Vanity Fair "the most sought-after creative director in the world."
Career overview
* 1982: Art Director for Barneys New York.
* 1987: Art Director: ''New York Woman'' Magazine.
* 1988-1990: Italian ''Vogue''. Art Director, under editor Franca Sozzani.
* 1990-1991: Interview Magazine, Art Director.
* 1990: Founded Baron & Baron, Inc.
* 1992: Harper's Bazaar Creative Director under editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis.
* 1992 Directed Madonna's 'Erotica' music video
* 1992 Directed 'Sex' Documentary featuring Madonna
* 2000–2002: ''Arena Homme Plus''. Editor-in-chief and Design Director.
* 2001: Residential furniture line with Cappellini.
* 2002: Contract furniture line with
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design (a division of the Bernhardt Furniture Company) is an American modern furniture company based in Lenoir, North Carolina. The company is known for working with a wide variety of international designers, and for their investment ...
.
* 2003-2008: French ''Vogue''. Creative Director, under editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld.
* 2008: ''Interview'' Magazine. Co-Editorial Director
* 2009: ''Interview'' Magazine: Editorial Director
* 1990–Present: Founder of Baron & Baron
Awards
* 25 FiFi awards for design and advertising from the Fragrance Foundation.
* 2 ASME awards of excellence for design and photography from the American Society of Magazine Editors.
* 2 ''TIME'' top ten covers of the year.
* 25 SPD gold and silver awards for art direction from the Society of Publication Designers.
* CFDA special award for influence in art direction from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
* APPM 22nd annual Advertising Awards: 2006 "Le Grand Prix" for fragrance advertising.