Daniel Lismore

Daniel started his career as a photographer before moving in front of the lens and becoming a model. He has been shot by, and acted as creative consultant to, some of the world’s most famous photographers, including Mert & Marcus, Steven Klein, David LaChapelle and Ellen von Unwerth. He is known for living his life as art, for elaborate and extravagant ensembles that brilliantly combine haute couture with vintage fabrics, found objects, chainmail, ethnic jewellery, millinery and more in an expression of eccentric, creative energy. Inspired by art in all its forms, history and his travels, Lismore constantly combines and amalgamates multiple inspirations from around the world into vibrant expressions of cultural appreciation.

Lismore has been named by Vogue as England’s most eccentric dresser, and selected as one of Out 100 and in the top 100 of the Guardian’s Pride Power List. A prominent fixture on the London fashion and art circuits, he is both a tastemaker and friend to artists ranging from Stephen Fry and Debbie Harry, to Boy George and Edward Enninful, who all contributed to his first book, Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken, published by Rizzoli. In this book he shared 32 3D sculptures that comprised his first US museum exhibition, co-curated by Savannah College of Art and Design and which was later displayed at Miami Art Basel.

In May 2017 he had an exhibition at the Venice Biennale. In June 2018 he curated a month-long show of his work at Harpa Hall in Iceland as the highlight of the Reykjavik Arts Festival attended by the likes of Björk and David Beckham. The exhibition continues to travel the world and opened at Pan Museum, Naples, in July 2019 and Art Gallery Space, Poznań, in November.

He is an active campaigner and was the face of HM Close the Loop campaign to encourage recycling of clothes, is an ambassador of the climate change charity Cool Earth and has worked closely with Vivienne Westwood on her climate revolution projects. He also undertook voluntary work for the charity Icross and NWI in Kenya. He has appeared in numerous TV shows and films including a cameo in Absolutely Fabulous the Movie.

Daniel is an ambassador for Tate who hosted his first two exhibitions in 2012 and 2013 featuring selfies, and he is also a global ambassador for Graduate Fashion Week which reflects the 6 years he spent as creative director of a luxury women’s wear brand. In April 2019 he gave a TED Talk at the main TED conference in Vancouver, titled ‘Be Yourself’ in which he spoke for the first time about the art of living sculpture.