LA MER x SORRENTI

In 2019, I partnered with the renowned beauty brand La Mer to curate the exhibition and launch a historic collaboration between the iconic brand and photographers Mario and Gray Sorrenti. La Mer's Senior Creative Director, Jakob Daschek, entrusted me with editing and curating an exhibition from the incredible photographs produced for the project at a private art gallery in Chelsea, NY. I transformed the space with imagery from this creative collaboration, crafting an unforgettable experience. The exhibition showcased over 75 artworks across various presentations of the photographic medium, including raw prints pinned on walls, billboard-scale vinyl, framed photographic pigment prints, and multiple video installations.

This event held special significance for the father-daughter photographers as it marked the debut of their first exhibition together. I honored Mario Sorrenti’s extensive legacy and the raw beauty of the work produced by referencing over thirty years of his exhibition history and incorporating new ways to display and discuss the work.

It was a privilege to steward a first impression of a truly exciting collaboration. La Mer, a supreme beauty brand, has always emphasized the importance of sustainability and the unparalleled power of nature. Inviting the Sorrentis to serve as documentarians and muses allowed for a unique opportunity to discuss the core values of each and produce a one-of-a-kind body of work perfect for reimagining the La Mer Creme jar. It was a true joy to be involved in this project, which beautifully articulates that great product, creativity, and thoughtful storytelling create a lasting impression.

A collaged view of images and handwritten text created for the La Mer x Sorrenti collaboration.

A black and white portrait of a person diving underwater, the bubbles create by the force of the dive extend the length of the figure, who's arms remain outstretched.

LA MER

The La Mer creme was born out of the extraordinary journey of its founder, Dr. Max Huber. He endured excruciating burns in a laboratory accident and, through 12 years of exhaustive research and over 6,000 experiments, developed a pioneering fermentation process. Leveraging the potency of sea kelp and other natural elements, he created the revitalizing core ingredient found in the product even today.

In 1995, Esteé Lauder Companies acquired the world-renowned La Mer, which quickly became one of the world's most coveted and profitable skincare companies. The company's unique formula and high-quality ingredients continue to be credited with its enduring success.

Sustainability and the ongoing revelry of nature and its wealth of healing potential are core principles in the brand and the public narrative surrounding its ethos. As articulated in the formula and corporate governance, the commitment to sustainability makes for an excellent example of product and brand working together to create an enterprise centered on Impact.

A pair of black and white photographs of figures underwater. On the left a portrait of Gray Sorrenti the photographer/model creating a C curve with her body. To the right, a portrait of photographer Mario Sorrenti with arms outstretched.

LA MER x Sorrenti

A black and white photograph capturing waves crashing behind two La Mer creme jars. Each Jar is black and white and adorned by photographs by Mario and Gray Sorrenti.

2019 brought an incredibly unique opportunity for the visionary beauty brand. By inviting the renowned photographer Mario Sorrenti and his daughter Gray Sorrenti to collaborate, the brand introduced a new look for the iconic La Mer Creme jar and a new dialogue surrounding beauty's role intergenerationally for consumers. The collaboration is evocative of how many customers, like me, first discovered the coveted product through a parent. By inviting a family to tackle a rare reimagining of the product, La Mer created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the artists to embark on a creative journey, resulting in a breathtaking collection of visual interpretations inspired by nature and its role in both the product and lives of its end users. The outcome is an enduring body of work.