Biographie
When speaking of Director/Photographer Dean Karr, the one thing that people seem to agree about is that he is a true original. His signature style, often copied but never duplicated, has gained him international recognition. He is clearly a man to watch if one is interested in knowing which way the wind will be blowing. His work interprets and defines our time.
Mr. Karr's prolific work as a music video/commercial/documentary director has brought him to the forefront of his craft. His music videos are constantly found at the top of various play lists, has won various awards from Much Music Awards (2x) the Santiago Chile' International Horror Festival and the California Music Video Awards. Karr has also been nominated for major MTV, Billboard, and MVPA Video Awards. He has worked with artists such as Stevie Nicks, Marilyn Manson (3x), the Dave Matthews Band (4x), N.W.A. (2x), Willie Nelson, Queens of the Stone Age, Iron Maiden (3x), Damian Marley (2x), Godsmack (2x), Tommy Lee (2x), Ozzy Osbourne (2x), Korn (2x), Cypress Hill (3x), Dr. Dre, Slayer and Slipknot. His TV commercial projects combine his distinctive bold imagery with strong product recognition, and include work for clients such as Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream (5x), Universal Studios (6x), Mazda Automotive (Foote, Cone & Belding), Woolrich (Siquis, Ltd.), Mortal Kombat (DDB Needham) and Coke (David & Goliath). His visuals reveal a highly tuned sense of style, fashion, art, and storytelling.
Dean Karr's photography has been the subject of numerous exhibitions ranging from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to the prestigious Merry Karnowsky Gallery where his art pieces are in great demand. His striking album and print work Includes artists such as Tool, A Perfect Circle, Marilyn Manson, Match Box 20, Lenny Kravitz, Busta Rhymes, Chris Rock and Pantera. His numerous institutional print campaigns include Universal Studios, HBO, Tommy Hilfiger and the National Ad Council.
A native of Seattle, Washington, Karr received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington State University. The excitement of the emerging Seattle rock scene provided him with early photographic subject matter.
Moving to Los Angeles to attend the Art Centre School of Design in Pasadena, Karr found himself drawn away from the academic world by the reality of the extraordinary and malformed characters that he encountered in the depths of the city. Gaining their trust, he passionately captured their uniqueness on film. The technique was highly original; the work was shockingly beautiful - an important new artist burst upon the photographic scene.
Intrigued by the potential of the moving image, Karr ventured into music videos. The promise of his early work led to Karr being asked to direct Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams." The resulting piece was a shocker, drawing immediate and broad commercial attention. It served to propel both Manson and Karr into the forefront of the visual rock world. Work with other top artists soon followed. After being represented by RSA and A Band Apart, In 2000 he became a founding partner of the Los Angeles based commercial and music video production company, The Mine LLC.
Always finding inspiration from reality, Karr has developed a sense of adventure in seeking out unique settings for his projects. Recent ventures have taken him to such varied locations as the Amazon Rain Forests, and the chilled waters of South Australia to film the Great White Shark.
