ABOUT
Growing up in a small, picturesque town half way between Berlin and Amsterdam, Jens fell in love with photography at an early age. Obsessed with exotic cars, he kept borrowing his father's Mamiya to create lasting memories of 4-wheeled Italian beauties in the Seventies. Ever since his uncle presented him with a $5 Agfamatic Pocket for his tenth birthday, Lucking has not left the house without a camera.
Drawn by the terrible cuisine and wet weather, he moved to London in 1996. Traveling around the globe for commercial and personal projects, Jens finally traded the English capital for the eternal California sunshine and now lives with his lovely wife and young son in Venice Beach.
His works have been sold to international clients, amassed a multitude of awards, ranging from the International Photography Awards and American Photographic Artists to Communication Arts and the National Photographic Portrait Prize, showing in galleries in Europe and North America, and supporting local charities, including the Venice Family Clinic and Venice Arts, where Lucking mentored children in photography.
In recent years, Jens has come to enjoy creating unique photographic portraits for magazine covers and families alike.
Most Recent News:
The latest image of the Indecent Exposure Series
Indecent Exposure | Nicole
Commissioned shoot for Zynga
Zynga | GT40 x Minnesota
Commissioned shoot for Chris Ashton of Ruffian Cars
67 Ruffian Mustang
Commissioned shoot for Bugatti, showing their new COO for the Americas, Sascha Doering, with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the fastest production car in the world
Current Exhibition at THE MOTORING CLUB, 11728 W OLYMPIC BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90064
Featuring the latest additions to the HAMMER TIME series
and fine art prints from the book THE INAUGURAL COUNTACH RALLY - 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Indecent Exposure - the series continues
Lucas
Anna
Venice Family Clinic Artwalk Auction
Indecent Exposure | Catarina - Venice Family Clinic Artwalk Auction on @artsy 2021
Interview with Maya Meinert of Venice Family Clinic
NOW LIVE - get your bids in before May 12, 2021, NOON PST: Venice Art Walk Auction [BENEFITTING THE VENICE FAMILY CLINIC] on @ARTSY https://www.artsy.net/auction/venice-family-clinic-art-walk-benefit-auction-2021 DIRECT LINK TO Indecent Exposure - Catarina: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/jens-lucking-indecent-exposure-catarina
Camp Ubuntu, Charity Art Auction, bidding ends December 15, 2020
December 9, 2020, 6 PM PST, APA SF Something Personal AWARDS, virtual LIVE show via ZOOM
MAY 13, 2020, 5PM PST, Venice Art Walk Auction [BENEFITTING THE VENICE FAMILY CLINIC] on @ARTSY - LIVE interview via ZOOM
APRIL 25, 2020 (postponed because of COVID-19)
APA L.A. OFF THE CLOCK
Santa Monica Art Studios, Hangar Gallery South, 3026 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405
INDECENT EXPOSURE | BRITTA - multi-award-winning image, featured in Communication Arts Awards, APA Awards, International Photography Awards
FEBRUARY 22, 2020
Santa Monica History Museum
Closing party with presentation and Q&A for our current exhibition of the book Santa Monica Pleasure Pier - A Look Back To 1917 From Today
OCTOBER 22, 2019
INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS/LUCIE AWARDS CEREMONY
CARNEGIE HALL, NYC
OCTOBER 12, 2019 during Culver City Art Walk
BOOK LAUNCH PARTY and BOOK SIGNING
Arcana - Books on the Arts
8675 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
SOLO EXHIBITION at CAFE VIDA, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles
August - September 2019
Venice Art Walk Auction benefiting Venice Family Clinic, curated by Lisa Gelber
Sunday, May 19, 2019
GOOGLE Silicon Beach HQ, 340 Main Street, Venice, CA 90291
Arthouse L.A., curated by Jacquie Israel
Saturday and Sunday, April 27/28, 2019
Pacific Palisades
APA L.A. Off The Clock exhibition, curated by esteemed NYC collector H.M. Hunt
featuring Weatherman and Thunderbird
Opening reception, Saturday, April 13, 2019, 7-10 pm (runs until May 11, 2019)
Santa Monica Art Studios, Hangar Gallery South, 3026 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Gary’s Pop Up, Culver City featuring the Hammer Time Series and 2 installations inspired by the former
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Honorable Mention - 12th Annual International Color Awards | Photojournalism
12th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from Sotheby's, New York; Benetton, Ponzano Veneto; The Art Channel, London; Kolle Rebbe, Hamburg; Droga5, New York; Preus Museum, Norway; Art Beatus, Hong Kong; Forsman & Bodenfors, Gothenburg; Wieden & Kennedy, Portland; Fox Broadcasting Network, Los Angeles; Gallery Kong, Seoul; and Phillips, New York
Interview with Melisa Kaya of Bontena, published February 20, 2019
January 9, 2018
Midnite Bazaar at The Victorian, Main Street, Santa Monica
Doors open at 8 PM
featuring The HAMMER TIME Triptych, International Photography Award 2018
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
Goorus, 15327 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Venice Arts | 25th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, November 3, 2018 - 5:00-8:00 pm
Venice Arts | 13445 Beach Ave | Venice, CA 90292
A project collaborating with Creative Director Michael Murphy revisiting imagery from a book published in 1902 has
led to to an exhibition at the Santa Monica Museum of History which opens May 18, 2018 with a day of FREE entry
to the public on May 24, 2018, including a book signing* by author Michael Murphy and photographer Jens Lucking
from 6-7pm.
*After securing the exhibit,the project caught the interest of international publishing company Arcadia and a book deal
has been signed in January 2018.
Venice Family Clinic VENICE ART WALK AUCTION @GOOGLE HQ - May 20, 2018
This year's piece CONTINENTAL is now LIVE onPaddle8 for the online pre-auction
SOLO EXHIBITION at CAFE VIDA, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles
March - April 2018
A selection of fine art prints is currently on display at IGNITION CREATIVE
12959 Coral Tree Place, Los Angeles, CA 90066
SOLO EXHIBITION at DOMA, 4325 Glencoe Ave, Unit C8, Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, CA 90292
August - September 2017
Venice Family Clinic VENICE ART WALK AUCTION @GOOGLE HQ - May 21, 2017
This year's piece GIANT JACKSON sold to a major supporter of VFC for above asking price at $1,400.00
Meet me at IGNITION CREATIVE'S Art Exhibition - SATURDAY, March 11, 2017 - 6 PM - 11 PM. RSVP here:
My ad campaign for Ferrero's KINDER Brand just went up! Yes, they ARE the makers of Nutella :)
Here is the link to the winning series "Los Angeles Guide" at this year's Communication Arts Photography Annual (art direction by Lisa M. Lewis):
http://www.commarts.com/gallery/photography/editorial/travel/transportation/2016
AWARDS
ODIN GROCERY AND CAFE
2024 APA | L.A. Off The Clock
Hammer Time - Alfa Scelino
Indecent Exposure | Nicole
2023 APA | SF Something Personal
Indecent Exposure | Catarina
2023 APA | NY Chairman’s Choices Show, SoHo Photo
The Inaugural Countach Rally - 50th Anniversary
2022 International Photography Awards, Official Selection
2021 APA | SF Something Personal
2021 APA | San Diego Untitled
2020 APA | SF Something Personal
2020 International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention
2020 Spotlight Awards, shortlisted for Advertising Photographer of the Year
2020 Communication Arts Photography Annual Winner
2020 APA | L.A. OFF THE CLOCK
Indecent Exposure | Britta
2019 International Photography Award | Cityscapes
2019 International Color Awards | Photojournalism
Dead End
2019 APA | L.A. Off The Clock
Thunderbird
Weatherman
2018 IPA - International Photography Awards/Lucie Awards
Hammer Time Triptych
2018 APA | L.A. OFF THE CLOCK
KEN - R.I.P.
Continental
2017 Communication Arts Photography Annual Winner
Winning image "ROAR", shot at the Natural History Museum of L.A. for the Official Los Angeles Visitors Guide 2017
2016 APA | NY "Give Us Your Best Shot" Finalist
2016 Communication Arts Photography Annual Winner
One of the four winning images shot for Lisa M. Lewis/Los Angeles Magazine Custom Publishing
2016 APA LA OFF THE CLOCK
2015 APA SF Something Personal
The image "Bald Look" was taken in Sicily during our honeymoon. My wife attempted to climb off of the harbor wall when she was spotted by a Polish tourist. The photograph will be on display during this year's APA SF Something Personal exhibition on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 5PM to 11PM. Please RSVP if you would like to come to the show.
The venue: THE MIDWAY GALLERY, 900 MARIN STREET, SAN FRANCISCO
2014 APA SF Something Personal
The image "DAD" was taken shortly after Lucking's father was released from hospital after a near-fatal stroke. The photograph will be on display at the APA SF Something Personal Exhibit in San Francisco on DECEMBER 6, 2014. It achieved a joint 3rd place in the judging process, juried by:
SUZEE BARRABEE
Director of Art and Print Production
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
CAMERON BARNUM
Content Producer / Art Buyer
BBDO San Francisco
CHASE MADRID
Senior Art Director
FCB
PATRICK WITTY
Director of Photography
WIRED Magazine
STUART SCHWARTZ
Owner / Curator
The Image Flow
BLAKE BÄKKEN
Design Director
Venables Bell & Partners
2013 LUCIE Awards/International Photography Awards
The series "Jenson Ray Thunder" received an honorable mention at the 2013 International Photography Awards, chosen from nearly 18,000 submissions from 104 countries across the globe. IPA is a sister-effort of the Lucie Foundation, where the top three winners are announced at the annual Lucie Awards gala ceremony in New York City.
2013 APA LA Off The Clock
This image was one of two of Lucking's photographs chosen by Anne Lyden for the 2013 APA LA Off The Clock exhibit. Former Associate Curator at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Lyden was recently appointed International Photography Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland.
2005 AOP Awards
2004 Schweppes Photographic Portrait Prize
The image TOKYO was named the winning photograph of nearly 8,000 submissions for the 2004 National Photographic Portrait Prize on Opening Night at the National Portrait Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square.
2000 Kodak Class of 2000 Award
2000 John Kobal Photographic Portrait Prize
2000 AOP Assistants Awards
1999 AOP Assistants Awards
1998 AOP Assistants Awards
EXHIBITIONS
The Motoring Club, Los Angeles (2023, 2024)
Venice Art Walk & Auction, Runway, Los Angeles (2023)
Venice Art Walk & Auction, Santa Monica Place (2022)
Venice Art Walk & Auction (2021)
Venice Art Walk & Auction on ARTSY because of COVID-19 (2020)
APA LA OFF THE CLOCK, Online because of COVID-19 (2020)
Santa Monica History Museum, Solo Exhibition, Santa Monica Pleasure Pier - A Look Back to 1917 from Today (2019/20)
Arthouse LA, Pacific Palisades - Jacquie Israel, CA (2019)
Venice Art Walk & Auction GOOGLE HQ, Venice, CA (2019)
Cafe Vida, Pacific Palisades, Solo Exhibition (2019)
APA LA OFF THE CLOCK, Santa Monica Airport, Hangar Gallery South (2019)
Santa Monica History Museum, Solo Exhibition, Santa Monica 1902 - A Look Back (2018)
Arthouse LA, Pacific Palisades - Jacquie Israel, CA (2018)
Venice Art Walk & Auction GOOGLE HQ, Venice, CA (2018)
Cafe Vida, Pacific Palisades, Solo Exhibition (2018)
GR, "Kinderzimmer",Culver City, CA (2018)
APA LA OFF THE CLOCK, Santa Monica Airport, Hangar Gallery South (2018)
Arthouse LA, Pacific Palisades - Jacquie Israel, CA (2017)
Venice Art Walk & Auction GOOGLE HQ, Venice, CA (2017)
GR, Culver City, CA (2017)
APA NY Give Us Your Best Shot, Adelante Studio, NYC (2016)
APA LA OFF THE CLOCK, Santa Monica Airport, Hangar Gallery South (2016)
Arthouse LA, Pacific Palisades - Jacquie Israel, CA (2016)
Venice Art Walk & Auction GOOGLE HQ, Venice, CA (2016)
Venice Art Walk & Auction GOOGLE HQ, Venice, CA (2015)
Tour De Venice, Hotel ERWIN, Venice, CA (2015)
GROUNDWORK HOLLYWOOD, 1501 N Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 (2014-15)
APA LA Off The Clock, Helms Bakery, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Crispin Porter + Bogusky (2012)
BLAST, Laguna Beach, Solo Exhibition (2012)
Flying Saucers, Santa Monica, Group Exhibitions (2010, 2011, 2012)
Lyceum Gallery, San Diego, Group Exhibition „The Art Of Photography Show“ (2010)
The Kensigton Cafe, San Diego, Group Exhibition „Young Man/Old Man“ (2010)
Novel Cafe, Santa Monica, Solo Exhibition (2010)
Flying Saucers, Santa Monica, Solo Exhibition (2010)
Create:Fixate, Los Angeles, Group Exhibition „SnapFlash“ 6th Annual All Photography Show (2009)
Group Exhibitions at the AOP Gallery and at Sadler's Wells (1998,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009)
Maddox Arts,London, Group Exhibition „VIVA LOLITA" (2008)
Decima Gallery, London, Group Exhibition (2008)
The Old Bakery, London, Solo Exhibition (2006)
National Portrait Gallery, Group Exhibitions (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)
Marmelade, London, Group Exhibition (2002)
The Fox Reformed, London, Solo Exhibition (2001)
Cable Street Gallery, London, Group Exhibition (2000)
Jens was awarded First Prize for his image
from close to 8,000 images submitted:
The 60 finalist images were exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square :
...[Jens'] early efforts focused exclusively on his other childhood passion - cars. "As a kid, I must have taken thousands of pictures of cars", he recalls. "Perhaps that's why I love Jaques-Henri Lartigue. I had the same youthful obsession with photography and automobiles."
As a teenager, Lucking was torn between car design and photography as a career, eventually opting for the latter - much to his parents' disapproval. Their displeasure increased when, after training in Germany, he moved to London in 1996.
"I took all my savings, said my goodbyes and headed for the UK",explains Lucking [...]. "Six months later, all the money was gone and my parents were nagging at me to come home and get a proper job." Deciding to stick it out, Lucking was thrown a lifeline when he "hassled" car photographer Chris Bailey into hiring him as an assistant - a job that brought him financial stability and the opportunity to indulge his twin passions once more. While continuing to shoot ad campaigns for clients in the UK and overseas, Lucking now devotes more time to non-commercial work...
Since the above interview [THE PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE 2004 - SPONSORED BY SCHWEPPES], his photographs have been published around the world, auctioned by British auction house Sotheby's and exhibited in numerous prestigious galleries. Jens has been invited to judge photographic competitions and publicly speak about his work to inspire a new generation of photographers.
After moving to the US in 2009, he has shot for various advertising clients, including a national advertising campaign for Pfizer and an international ad campaign for Dreamworks/FUHU, a collection of rare collector's cars for leading classic car auction house RM's Pebble Beach/Monterey display and exhibited in a number of Southern California galleries. His image LEANING AL was selected for the Art Of Photography Show 2010. One hundred eleven photographs were chosen by Natasha Egan - Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago - from 13,692 submitted.
RANGER
R.I.P.
His image of multiple-award-winning Italian greyhound Ranger was chosen for the APA Off The Clock 2012 exhibition which has just returned from various exhibitions hosted - among others - by two of the leading advertising agencies: TBWA\Chiat\Day in Los Angeles and Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Boulder. Selected by Gordon Baldwin, curator of photographs, J. Paul Getty museum.
Jens still kinda likes cars. Here are a few more: www.automotivephotographer.us