Matthew Rolston

Short Biography

Matthew Russell Rolston (born Los Angeles, March 1, 1955 in Los Angeles) is an American fashion photographer and music video director, known for videos in Pop and R&B; genres. Matthew Rolston was raised in Los Angeles and developed his photography at the San Francisco Art Institute and the Art Center College of Design, in Pasadena. Rolston’s still photography has appeared in Harper`s Bazaar, Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and Rolling Stone.Rolston’s photographs have exhibited in the United States, Europe, and Japan, including The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Smithsonian Institution. A collection of his photographs, “Big Pictures”, was published in 1991 by Bullfinch Press. Rolston has directed music videos for artists including En Vogue, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, TLC, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Poe, Dido, Garbage, Sugababes, Jody Watley, Hilary Duff and Beyoncé Knowles. He has also directed commercials for the GAP, Ralph Lauren, Neutrogena, L`Oréal, Clairol, Pantene, Burberry, Maybelline, Levi`s, Bacardi, Elizabeth Arden, General Motors, Max Factor, Old Navy and Revlon. He has photographed stars like Michael Jackson, Angelina Jolie, Kelly Osbourne, Bob Dylan, Monica Bellucci, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Depp, Linsday Lohan, Penelope Cruz, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne and others. His work has been influenced by 1930s glamor photographer George Hurrell, early Hollywood director Josef von Sternberg, and costume designers, Adrian and Travis Banton. Currently signed to Radical Media worldwide for music videos, commercials, new media, and branded entertainment. Instant Karma Films provides representation for TV commercials and print throughout Asia. His photography reps include Stockland Martel and Jim Johnson / Pretty Pictures Representation. Matthew Rolston recently photographed Michael Jackson at the Brooklyn Museum in New York for Ebony, December 2007 issue. Rolston also has worked with Joanne Gair and appears in her second book.