20 irresistible photos that defined our 2019

As 2019 comes to a close—and with it, the end of the decade—it’s time to reminisce over the year that was. Here, at SLEEK we commissioned some unforgettable original photography—who can forget Martin Parr shooting autumn/winter fashion for the cover of SLEEK #63 at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol, or our winter 2019 cover star, the performance artist and musician Kembra Pfahler, lensed by one of our favourite New York photographers, Fumi Nagasaka? The year kicked off with our Digital Ethics issue, featuring Nora Turato, a Princess Diana-inspired spring fashion shoot and Stephen Tayo in Lagos, before segueing into our summer issue featuring Carlota Guerrero’s stunning story on Sharon Eyal and her dance troupe as well as our Esmay Wagemans’ face filter beauty story. Autumn was defined by not only Martin Parr but also Francesca Allen’s cabinet series with ‘it’ model Tin Gao and Mayan Toledano’s incredible portraits of journalist Noor Tagouri. Which brings us to winter and Kembra x Fumi Nagasaka, Adrienne Raquel’s New York glamour and Camila Falquez’s luminous study of followers of the Yoruba faith in Cuba. Let’s raise a glass to the year that was.

Martin Parr lenses the cover of SLEEK #63

For our autumn issue, the legendary photographer shot model-of-the-moment Maggie Maurer at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol.

Nora Turato by Image Group for SLEEK #61

For our SLEEK #61 cover story, Image Group photographed Croatian-born and Amsterdam-based performance artist Nora Turato in head-to-toe Balenciaga. Turato has quickly become one-to-watch on the contemporary art scene for her enrapturing style of performance art that challenges the historical silencing of women.

Sharon Eyal and her troupe by Carlota Guerrero for SLEEK #62

In a stunning exploration of form and movement, Spanish photographer Carlota Guerrero lensed the Israeli choreographer and her dance troupe as they performed Half Life in Berlin last spring.

Esmay Wagemans’ face filter photographed by Felicity Ingram

For SLEEK’s summer issue, sci-fi artist, Esmay Wagemans teamed up with Selam X’s Claudia Rafael to create an exclusive editorial, entitled Glass Skin, with photography by Felicity Ingram.

Stephen Tayo lenses Lagos’ fashion scene

The one-to-watch photographer captured the coolest in local fashion and SS19 menswear in the bustling Nigerian city for SLEEK #61.

Adrienne Raquel shoots winter glamour for SLEEK #64

For our winter issue, the American photographer captured model Tricia Akello in the most glamorous autumn/winter looks.

Dyed Pastel Birds (2019) by Farah Al Qasimi

“Obviously it’s a cute photograph but it’s actually very morbid because these chicks are living in a trap (they would usually die on account of the chemicals). They’re kind of forced to become these aesthetic objects as opposed to living things.” The UAE photographer in SLEEK 63 on this deceptively complex image. 

Kito Muñoz shoots menswear for our summer issue

Spanish photographer Kito Muñoz lenses family dynamics at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in this sweltering summer editorial for SLEEK #62.

Camila Falquez photographed followers of the Yoruba faith in Havana

For the winter issue of SLEEK, photographer Camila Falquez travelled to the Cuban capital to document practitioners of the religion who, according to tradition, are descended from deities called Orishas.

Griselda San Martin captures the poignancy of separation at the US-Mexico border

The Spanish image-maker uses photography as a humanising tool to document the experiences of those affected by the border crisis.

Francesca Allen photographs Tin Gao

For the autumn edition of SLEEK, out now, we commissioned British photographer, Francesca Allen, renowned for her luminous depictions of female friendship, to photograph model-of-the-moment Tin Gao.

Too much sun in SLEEK #61

A beauty story by Alexandra Von Fuerst with creative direction by Stella von Senger inspired by extreme beauty and too much sun exposure.

Love Parade (1992) by Tilman Brembs

In autumn an exhibition opened at Berlin’s C/O Gallery exploring how the fall of the Berlin Wall impacted upon the city’s infamous techno scene. For SLEEK #63, we took a deep dive into the relationship between the two.

Mayan Toledano photographs Noor Tagouri for SLEEK #63

The photographer who made a name for herself through her stunning depictions of girlhood and female friendship, lensed the groundbreaking journalist for our autumn issue.

Boris Camaca’s Watched

For our spring issue, Kamila Richter styled three models in early ‘80s-style attire inspired by the late Princess Diana and photographed by Boris Camaca.

Camila Falquez’s Las Vírgenes del Flamenco

For our spring issue, the Spanish photographer and filmmaker captured the fierce and fiery flamenco dancers in Seville in the south of Spain.

Arvida Bystrom plays dress-up with dolls for SLEEK #61

The Swedish photographer renowned for championing the ‘female gaze’ photographed spring/summer styles complete with an eerie sex doll.

Karl Largerfeld’s last couture collection

In spring, Sarah Blais lensed the late designer’s final couture collection, including this glistening bridal look (which is also currently on view at the Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin). 

Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg (1981) by Ute Mahler

In our spring issue, we explored the forgotten East German fashion magazine Sibylle with photography by Ute and Werner Mahler. As 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, this made the story all the more necessary.

Fumi Nagaska lenses Kembra Pfahler for the cover of SLEEK #64

And last but by no means least, for our new issue, out now, the New York-based photographer shot the legendary performance artist and musician in head-to-toe Rick Owens.