Model, fashion photographer, father, artist, cancer survivor, and just a damn good human. Clarence Klingebeil is originally from Berlin during the time of the separation of the city via the “Berlin Wall” which separated east, the communist side and the capital of Soviet-occupied Germany, and the west, or as Clarence truthfully puts it, “the free side.” Thankfully Clarence was on the free side. He’s certainly seen some things throughout his life and career to date. Not long after growing up next to the iron curtain, Clarence was a very successful fashion model for more than a decade, having worked with the likes of Horst and Helmut Newton, among many other experiences that granted him a unique education in the world of fashion. Travel was a large part of it and its where he developed his love for New York City. During the 1990’s Clarence put his on-the-ground education to work by purchasing a camera, a Leica, and then trained in Paris which led to a very successful career as a fashion photographer. Like all good things, then came the modern digital shopping era and the near death of catalogs, and magazine shopping, the “bread and butter” of photography at the time. “We all have to shift and learn again,” mentioned Clarence. A truly artistic statement and one that rings even truer today as the never ending evolution of the working world has “up-to-date with technology” as a pre-requisite to everything anyone takes on.
Aside from his boyish charm, wit, piercing gaze, and downright stylish sensibilities, you may notice one other thing, Clarence is not left handed even though he only uses his left hand for everything. Between 2016 and 2018 he had a bout with cancer of the lymph-nodes, and even after it was removed a blood clot was formed causing him to go into cardiac arrest and then a medically induced coma for nearly a week. Upon awakening in the hospital he noticed something was off… he could no longer use his right arm. It had to be amputated to save his life and remove any further blood clots and eventual damage that could more than likely take this amazing human down. Even though Clarence has led an amazingly successful career in photography and beyond, it’s almost as if he’s just getting started.
Photo taken at 201@105 Gallery in NYC by Chris Wojcicki
Currently Clarence lives in Brooklyn, NY working as a photographer primarily and as of 2024 taking on his day job as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or better known as the MET. There he indulges in people watching and being surrounded by the amazing rotating works within. It’s never a dull day when you’re surrounded by inspiration.
His latest series of black and white portraits focused on underground communities, more specifically the skate community, hardcore scenes, and even the security guards at the MET; it has gained a strong cult following within the scenes and the art world. Even with one hand tied behind his back, Clarence is making waves. With pure talent, and a knack for telling a complete story within a single photograph, Clarence is more than just another guy with a camera wrapped around him. He is someone who creates community wherever he goes.
Clarence reached out to Pigeon Magazine through our Instagram by sliding into our DMs. He simply mentioned his work and his upcoming gallery show in NYC entitled "Misfits." It was running from September through November 2025. Unfortunately we were residing in Barcelona at the time and a quick stint in NYC was not in the cards. However, the last date of the show was just before Thanksgiving in the US and we were going back for the holiday. Luckily enough we managed to catch the last day of the show! We were overjoyed to see the rich story filled portraits throughout the space, and to meet the man himself.
Naturally, our sense of humor can be a bit dark, especially when dealing with life threatening illness or even death. So one of our first responses was, "Ahah, so you're a lefty?" Clarence's charm worked instantly and so the conversation began.
You can learn more about Clarence and his fantastic work on his site. Be sure to purchase a print, a book, or just say “Hi!” You can also dig a little deeper and have a gander at the newly released documentary from Bill Lynch Films that recounts his early careers, his inspiration, methods, and witness the charm that is Clarence Klingebeil.
With One Arm Tied Behind His Back
Words by Chris Wojcicki
Photos in Gallery by Chris Wojcicki
Portraits by Clarence Klingebiel
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