Mr Hannes SCHMID

Founder

Smiling Gecko

Born in Zurich in 1946, Hannes Schmid is today one of the most important photo-artists in Switzerland. Continuing journeys took him around the world, where he developed his own characteristic visual language as an advertising, fashion and freelance photographer, characterized by personal ties to the objects. Hannes Schmid achieved worldwide fame with his staging of the iconic cowboy – the Marlboro Man. Legendary, is his collection of over 70,000 photos of the biggest rock stars. In more recent times, Hannes Schmid has also attracted attention with his photographs and photorealistic art. And since 2012 he has been involved in humanitarian activities for children and families in Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the world, with the non-profit association Smiling Gecko (www.smilinggecko.ch). In recognition of his exemplary commitment to the people of the slums of Phnom Penh, he was honored with a Honorary Doctorate in April 2018 by the University of Zurich.