Ethan James Green is an American photographer, filmmaker, director, and gallerist.

Early life

Green grew up in Caledonia, Michigan, where, at the age of 14, he began photographing his friends. In 2007, at age 17, he signed with

Ford Models Ford Models, originally the Ford Modeling Agency, is an American international modeling agency based in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen Ford and her husband Gerard W. Ford. History 20th century Eileen and Jerry began the bu ...

, and he moved to New York City the following year. As a model, he appeared in a prominent campaign for Calvin Klein, and was photographed by David Armstrong, appearing in Armstrong's 2011 book ''615 Jefferson Ave''. He began working at Armstrong's assistant, and Armstrong became his mentor.

Work

Photography

In New York, Green continued his earlier practice of photographing his friends. He met potential subjects at clubs and on Instagram, including actress and model

Hari Nef Hari Nef (born October 21, 1992) is an American actress, model, and writer. Nef's breakthrough role was Gittel in the Amazon original series '' Transparent'', for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performa ...

, stylist and Interview's fashion director Dara, models Marcs Goldberg and Stevie Triano, writer Devan Diaz, and artist and poet Ser Serpas. In 2014, Green began taking portraits of his queer, transgender, and nonbinary friends, usually in the

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Historically, it w ...

's Corlears Hook Park. Green is openly gay and captured friends and figures within various queer ecosystems in New York. The portraits, some of which appeared on Tumblr, garnered attention, and drew comparisons to

Diane Arbus Diane Arbus (; ; March 14, 1923 – July 26, 1971
by

. In 2019,

Aperture Foundation Aperture Foundation is a nonprofit arts institution, founded in 1952 by Ansel Adams, Minor White, Barbara Morgan (photographer), Barbara Morgan, Dorothea Lange, Nancy Newhall, Beaumont Newhall, Ernest Louie, Melton Ferris, and Dody Warren. Their ...

published the portraits as the monograph ''Young New York''. As a commercial photographer, Green has shot covers and editorials for ''

Arena Homme + ''Arena Homme +'' is a fashion magazine for men published biannually since 1994. The first issue was published in Spring/Summer 1994. ''Premiere Issues''. Retrieved 29 January 2016. The founding editor-in-chief is Kathryn Flett. It is published b ...

'', ''

Dazed ''Dazed'' (''Dazed & Confused'' until February 2014) is a quarterly British lifestyle magazine founded in 1991. It covers music, fashion, film, art, and literature. ''Dazed'' is published by Dazed Media, an independent media group known for produ ...

'', ''

i-D ''i-D'' is a British biannual magazine dedicated to fashion, music, art, film and youth culture. The magazine was launched in 1980 by Terry Jones, originally as a hand-stapled fanzine it has since evolved into a glossy publication. In 2023 the ...

'', '' Vanity Fair'', ''

Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ' ...

'', ''

Vogue Italia ''Vogue Italia'' is the Italian edition of '' Vogue'' magazine owned by Condé Nast International. In publication since 1964, it has been called the top fashion magazine in the world. The publication is currently edited by Francesca Ragazzi and ...

'', ''

Vogue Paris ''Vogue France'' (stylised in all caps) is the French edition of '' Vogue'' magazine, formerly called ''Vogue Paris'' from its inception until 2021. The magazine started publication in 1920 and has since been regarded as one of the top fashion ...

'', and '' W''; campaigns for

Alexander McQueen Lee Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer and couturier. He founded his own Alexander McQueen (brand), Alexander McQueen label in 1992 and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. His ac ...

Fendi Fendi Srl () is an Culture of Italy, Italian luxury goods, luxury fashion house producing fur, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Founded in Rome in 1925 by fashion designers Edoardo Fendi and ...

, Helmut Lang,

Miu Miu Miu Miu is an Italian high fashion women's clothing and accessory brand and a fully owned subsidiary of Prada. It is headed by Miuccia Prada and headquartered in Milan, Italy. Silvia Onofri is its CEO. History Miu Miu was established in 1992 ...

Prada Prada S.p.A. (, ; ) is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada. It specializes in leather handbags, travel accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear, and other fashion accessories. Prada licenses its name and branding ...

, and

Versace Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury elite fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as '' haute couture'' under it ...

; and has photographed fashion, pop culture, and queer celebrities such as

Naomi Campbell Naomi Elaine Campbell (born 22 May 1970) is a British supermodel. Beginning her career at the age of eight, Campbell was one of six models of her generation declared supermodels by the fashion industry and the international press. She was th ...

Bella Hadid Isabella Khair Hadid ( ; born October 9, 1996) is an American model. Hadid has made 35 appearances on international ''Vogue'' covers. In 2022, she was named Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council. ''Time'' magazine named her one ...

Kate Moss Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is an English model. Arriving towards the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of the heroin chic fashion trend. Her collaborations with Calvin Klein brought her t ...

Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. One of the List of music artists by net worth, wealthiest musicians in the world, List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna, her vario ...

RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and has received List of awards ...

, and

John Waters John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including '' Multiple Maniacs'' (1970), '' Pink Flamingos'' (1972) and '' Fe ...

New York Life Gallery

In the face of professional adversity in 2022, Green recalibrated his career trajectory, transforming his Chinatown-based studio into the New York Life Gallery. Initially starting as a hobby, this space—dedicated to experimental art exhibitions and the promotion of emerging and overlooked artists—rapidly integrated into his professional persona. The gallery has hosted noteworthy exhibitions, such as a live show by painter and illustrator

Drake Carr Drake Carr (born 1993, Flint, Michigan) is an American artist primarily known for his paintings and drawings of art and fashion luminaries and large-scale, cut-out works. Carr has exhibited his artwork across the United States at numerous exhibitio ...

and the archival showcase of the late Steven Cuffie.

Exhibitions

* 2019 – ''Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize'',

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

, London * 2022 – ''Made to Last'',

Fotografiska New York Fotografiska New York was a branch of the Swedish photography museum Fotografiska in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York City. The museum's home was the Church Missions House, a six-story, Romanesque Revival landmark. It opened in December 20 ...

, New York City * 2025 - ''Bombshell'', Mariposa Gallery, Los Angeles, California

Publications

* (zine) * * (zine) *

References

External links

Ethan James Green
on Models.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Ethan James 21st-century American photographers 1990 births Living people Models from Michigan Photographers from Michigan American gay artists People from Kent County, Michigan LGBTQ people from Michigan American LGBTQ photographers Gay photographers Gay models