Madonna Photographed by Koto Bolofo in Los Angeles, January 1989

The photographs were featured in Interview USA in May 1989 and in Moda Italy in September 1989.

Koto Bolofo (b. 1959) is a South African fashion photographer who highlights shapes, textures and shadows in his work. Born in South Africa, Bolofo was raised in Great Britain where he has photographed for Vogue, Vanity Fair and GQ. Koto Bolofo also made short films for the Berlinale and the Venice Film Festival and created advertising campaigns for Hermès, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Dom Pérignon.

It wasn’t very easy for Bolofo, a refugee, born in Lesotho, South Africa to climb to the photography career ladder. He had to flee the country with his family after his father was wrongly accused of promoting anti-governmental propaganda. They have sought refuge in Switzerland after finally settling in London where Bolofo first got acquainted with photography.

Bolofo is an autodidact photographer who creates magical images with his old camera, basic setup and natural light. Nonetheless, his images are unique, intimate, dynamic and rich in texture. Another thing that Bolofo does differently - he strives to create a strong connection with all the subjects he photographs. Therefore, he even visits his models before the shoots to get to know them better and understand their personalities.