Born in New York, Klein studied sociology before settling in Paris after the Second World War, where he attended the Sorbonne and later studied art under the celebrated modernist painter Fernand Léger. Initially trained as a painter and sculptor, his background in abstraction profoundly shaped his approach to image-making, encouraging experimentation and a willingness to break established rules. Photography entered his practice almost by accident, but it quickly became the medium through which he would make his greatest impact.

Klein first achieved international acclaim with the publication of his groundbreaking photobook Life Is Good & Good for You in New York: Trance Witness Revels (1956). Created after his return to New York from Paris, the project presented a radically new vision of the city, replacing the polished aesthetics of traditional photography with raw, energetic and often chaotic images of everyday urban life. Its close-up perspectives, motion blur, high contrast printing and unfiltered street encounters challenged prevailing photographic conventions and helped establish the book as one of the most important photobooks ever produced. The publication won the prestigious Prix Nadar in 1957 and secured Klein’s reputation as a major artistic innovator.

The success of the New York project led to a long association with Vogue, where Klein revolutionised fashion photography. Rejecting the controlled environment of the studio, he took models onto city streets, incorporating movement, spontaneity and the unpredictability of everyday life. His images brought a new energy and realism to fashion photography, helping transform the genre from a highly formalised practice into a more dynamic and expressive art form. Over the following decade his work appeared regularly in Vogue and many of the world’s leading fashion magazines.

Alongside photography, Klein developed an equally significant career in film. His experimental short film Broadway by Light (1958) anticipated many aspects of Pop Art through its vibrant celebration of commercial imagery and urban spectacle. He later directed influential documentaries and satirical feature films, including works exploring fashion, politics and popular culture. His films, like his photographs, are marked by humour, visual invention and a willingness to challenge conventional representations of modern life.

During the 1960s Klein’s international reputation continued to grow. In 1963 he was recognised at Photokina, the world’s leading photography event, as one of the most important photographers of his generation. His subsequent photographic studies of cities including Rome, Moscow, Tokyo and Paris expanded his exploration of urban life, combining social observation with a highly personal and experimental visual style

Klein’s work has been exhibited extensively throughout the world, with major exhibitions in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Milan, Madrid, New York, Cologne and many other international cultural centres. Retrospectives of his photography, painting and films have confirmed his status as one of the defining creative figures of the post-war period. His influence can be seen not only in contemporary photography but also in graphic design, advertising, cinema and visual culture more broadly.

Today, William Klein is celebrated as a visionary who transformed how cities, fashion and contemporary life could be photographed. By embracing imperfection, spontaneity and visual intensity, he challenged traditional photographic conventions and created a body of work that remains as vital, energetic and influential as when it first appeared. His photographs continue to stand among the most powerful and recognisable images of twentieth century urban culture.