MIDNIGHT CHECKOUT AT CHELSEA HOTEL, 1987 Martin Kippenberger

In January 1987, on assignment for a city report in the magazine TEMPO, I had a photo appointment with the artist Martin Kippenberger in Cologne. At the time he was living at Hotel Chelsea — and that’s exactly where he wanted to be photographed. I was only 24 and had no idea how iconic a figure I was about to portray.

I suggested photographing him outside the hotel, wrapped in a sheet — almost like a ghost. He thought that was silly and said a pillow would do just fine. Beforehand, there was of course a beer or two at Café Central. It still looks exactly the same today.

This spontaneous shoot is now among the early portraits that reveal Steffen’s unmistakable eye for artists.

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Limited Edition – Fine Art Print

Available Size & Edition

45 × 60 cm (17.7 × 23.6 in)

Edition: 25 + 2 A.P.

1) Only Print – Fine Art Print

Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta

1 cm white border

Unframed

2) Passepartout Frame (museum glass)

Fine art print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag

Passepartout framing

Glazing: museum glass, smooth surface

Motif size: 40 × 52.9 cm

Outer dimensions: 51.7 × 64.6 cm

Frame: dark brown wood with white passepartout

Hanging hardware included (“ready to hang”)