Most dedicated Kate Moss fans believe they’ve seen every professional photograph of the supermodel — but they’re mistaken. Kate Moss: Unseen, a forthcoming exhibition by photographer Owen Scarbiena, reveals her earliest professional images — shot when Moss was just 14 — and now revealed to the world for the first time.
🔗 View Image 1 – Kate Moss at 14, Unseen Photograph
The Shoot: A Serendipitous Beginning
“In the summer of 1988, I was shooting a series of models in designer blouses and sports underwear when Sarah Doukas of Storm Models called, asking me to meet their new girl, Kate Moss. They thought my clean, minimalist approach would suit her look — and it did. That shoot was the spark that ignited her meteoric rise to fashion icon and catwalk queen.”
🔗 View Image 2 – Kate Moss early test shot
A Natural Beauty, Beyond the Norm
“She was unimposing, innocent, fresh, unaffected, with a striking, nymph-like beauty. She didn’t bring pre-conceived notions of how to pose — so I let her be herself, directing her through storytelling and scenarios, shooting around that natural ease. The result was fun, exciting, and undeniably authentic.”
🔗 View Image 3 – Kate Moss portrait, Unseen
A Connection Lost — and Rediscovered
“We stayed in touch for years, often bumping into each other in London. But I moved to Italy, she became globally famous, and over time we lost contact.”
🔗 View Image 4 – Kate Moss unseen smiling
Why Were These Photographs Hidden for So Long?
“The images — processed black-and-white shots — were used in my portfolio for a while, then gradually replaced by newer work. They were stored away and forgotten. I rediscovered them only recently, buried in drawers as negatives and unseen contacts.”
🔗 View Image 5 – Kate Moss unseen contact sheet
From Archive to Exhibition
“A casual chat with a friend who owned a gallery inspired me to revisit my collection. I unearthed these gems — Kate at 14, in her first professional images. I reached out to Gabrielle du Plooy at Zebra One Gallery — she was stunned and thrilled to bring them to light.”
🔗 View Image 6 – Kate Moss unseen studio shot
Photographer’s Evolution
“Since then, my career has been diverse. I lived in Italy, working for Vogue Bambini and Donna, before returning to the UK for magazine, beauty, and advertising photography. Lately, I’ve also branched into cinematography and music promotions.”
🔗 View Image 7 – Kate Moss unseen close-up
Exhibition Details
Kate Moss: Unseen opens at Zebra One Gallery in London on 23 February 2016 and runs for two weeks. Moss and contacts from Storm Models have been invited to attend.
🔗 View Image 8 – Kate Moss unseen seated portrait
✨By Scarlet Conlon All images © Owen Scarbiena / via Vogue UK.