BFF

1988-1993 Studied communication design at the University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden, Germany
1994-2002 Art- and Creative Director at Select Communications in New York and Koblenz, Germany, creating world wide campaigns for international clients such as Bogner, Coty, Davidoff, Douglas, Joop
Since 2003 Freelance photographer, co-director, curator, editor and assistant professor with production experience in Europe, Asia, Oceania, North- and South America
Since 2006 Personal projects with 100+ single- and group exhibitions as well as participations in foto festivals in Australia, China, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Italy, Northern Ireland, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and USA
2017-2018 Participant in the Artist in Residence Program of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) of the University of Zurich (UZH)

„German photographer Karsten Thormaehlen has succeeded in creating a special testimony with his long-term projects, for which he takes photos of people over the age of 100 all over the world. His portraits are sensitive, esthetic – and at the same time so full of magic that they equally captivate and the viewer‘s mind and touch his soul. On the occasion of our 100th anniversary, Thormaehlen has continued his impressive series of portraits and developed a campaign that authentically unites people and companies.“ – Seidensticker

Acción Cultural Española
Aktion Mensch
A. Lange & Söhne
Aramark
AXA PPP
BAGSO
Bernadotte & Kylberg
Bethel
Bogner
BMW
BNP Paribas
Bosch
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
BuzziSpace
Chronicle Books
Commerz Real
Department of Canadian Heritage
Deutsche Bank
Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund
Deutsches Institut für Altersfragen
Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte
Dornbracht
Douglas
Esprit
fitbit
Frankfurter Buchmesse
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Hochschule RheinMain
Hotel BollAnts
Kehrer
Knesebeck
Lidl
Jägermeister
Jenaer Glas
HAFI
Henning Larsen
Marie-Luise & Ernst Becker Stiftung
mauritius images
Messe Frankfurt
Neurimmune
Norwegian Seafood Council
Olymp
Opel
Phase One
Porsche Design
SAGE
Samsung
Schirn Kunsthalle
Semcon
Seidensticker
Siemens
Steidl
Stihl
Symrise
teNeues
Tokushu Tokkai Papers
Watermark Retirement Communities
Union Investment
Universitätsklinik Gießen und Marburg
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
Universität Zürich
Villeroy & Boch
Volvo
Wella
Weltkulturen Museum
Xavier Lust
Zwiesel Kristallglas

ADC Germany, Gold, 2021; Nominierung, 2010
A’Design Award, Auszeichnung, 2018
Black & White Spider Awards, Nominierung, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
BoB Award, Gold, 2016
Cannes Lions, Nominierung, 2021; Gold, 2015
Clio Awards, Silber, 2015
Intl. Color Awards, Winner, 2019, 2018
D&AD London, Winner, 2016
DAM Preis für Architektur, Nominierung, 2019
Deutscher Alterspreis, Nominierung, 2013
Deutscher Fotobuchpreis, Nominierung, 2012
Internationale Kalenderschau, 2004, 1992
Lucie Awards, 1. Preis, 2015
Lürzer’s Archive, 200 Best Advertising Photographers 2018/19, 2016/17
New York Festivals, Auszeichnung, 2021
Portrait of Humanity, Single Image Winner, 2022; Shortlist, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, Bronze, 2017, 2016
Roses Media Awards, 1. Preis, 2011
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, Auszeichnung, 2016, 2011
Tokyo Design Space Award, Grand Prize, 2015
Webby Awards, Nominierung, 2021

Monographic publications:

Karsten Thormaehlen: Young at Heart, ed. Christine von Arnim, Steidl, Göttingen 2022
Not Another Second – LGBTQ Seniors Share Their Stories, ed. Watermark Retirement Communities, Tucson AZ, USA 2021
Karsten Thormaehlen: 100 Jahre Lebensglück – Weisheit, Liebe, Lachen, Knesebeck, Munich 2017
Karsten Thormaehlen: Aging Gracefully – Portraits of People Over 100, Chronicle Books, San Francisco CA, USA 2017
Karsten Thormaehlen: Silver Heroes, Kehrer, Heidelberg 2012
Karsten Thormaehlen: Mit 100 hat man noch Träume (engl. Happy at 100), Kehrer, Heidelberg 2011
Karsten Thormaehlen: Jahrhundertmensch, Frankfurt a. M. 2008
Rome – Photographs of Karsten Thormaehlen, teNeues, Kempen 2004

Edited publications:

Mario Schmolka: Intense, daab, Cologne 2005
Alexander Straulino: Playtime, daab, Cologne 2005
Jochen Arndt: Masako, daab, Cologne 2004
Alexander Babic: Roadshow, daab, Cologne 2004