James is in a category by himself. I can’t name another person working today – or ever – that has touched so many different disciplines in such a short span of time. When you attempted to define him in your question, you listed “artist” last. I think that James is an artist first. James makes art. His art takes many forms. Acting, writing, performing, painting, sculpting, etc.… All fall under the banner of broad category of “art.” James uses his celebrity as a tool, just like a traditional painter uses a brush. It’s just a thing for him to play with when making work. He’s working out ideas in front of the public. Normally, young artists work out their ideas in private until they’re confident enough to present them to the world. James doesn’t necessarily have this option due to his celebrity. It’s a gift and a curse. Terry Richardson, NUDE, 48″ x 72″, edition of 3 with 2 APs, 2011

a b Feldman, Jamie (October 24, 2017). "Condé Nast Stops Working With Terry Richardson". Huffington Post . Retrieved October 24, 2017. a b "Terry Richardson On Fatherhood and His New Photo Book, 'Skinny' ". PAPERMAG. August 30, 2016 . Retrieved October 25, 2017. Richardson has produced several campaigns for Diesel, including the 'Global Warming Ready' which won a Silver Lion for Print at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in 2007. He has produced several private portraits for the company's founder, Renzo Rosso. In September 2011, they hosted a mutual book launch together with fashion editor Carine Roitfeld, at Colette in Paris. In a 2010 interview at French Institute Alliance Française, Marc Jacobs said that Richardson is "not ill-spirited". [59] [60] Richardson published a letter in 2014 in The Huffington Post defending himself against the accusations. [61] [62] Richardson said that the allegations are false and that he considers himself "considerate and respectful" of his photography subjects. [63] Models including Noot Seear, Daisy Lowe, and Charlotte Free have defended him. [64] [65] [66] gigiriva (November 24, 2008). "The best model in a music video". Bellazon. Retrieved October 17, 2011.Munar, Jonathan (November 11, 2010). "A Conversation with RxArt President and Founder, Diane Brown". Art21 Magazine . Retrieved May 14, 2014.

His first published fashion photos appeared in Vibe in 1994. [13] [14] His Vibe spread was shown at Paris' International Festival de la Mode later that year. [12] Following the showing, Richardson shot an advertising campaign for fashion designer Katharine Hamnett's spring 1995 collection. [12] [13] The campaign was noted for images of young women wearing short skirts with their pubic hair showing. [12] [15] Richardson ( right) with Courtney Love attending New York Fashion Week in 2011 The Eye Mama book is a photographic portfolio showcasing the mama narrative and the mama gaze, what female and non-binary photographers see when they look at, and into the home. Friedman, Vanessa; Paton, Elizabeth (October 27, 2017). " 'Terry Richardson Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg' ". The New York Times. Why do you think celebrities are so intrigued by Terry Richardson? And conversely, why do you think Terry Richardson is so intrigued by celebrities? Richardson described his style as, "Trying to capture those unpremeditated moments when people's sexualities come up to the surface." [39]He is known for posing with his subjects, often giving them his trademark glasses so they may "pretend to be him" or, in the case of actress Chloë Sevigny, posing them in makeup and costume so that they look like him. [37] Richardson counts Larry Clark, Nan Goldin, Diane Arbus and Robert Frank as early influences on his artistic style. [13] His work has been praised by Helmut Newton. [38]