Robert Michael Mapplethorpe (1946-1989) was an American photographer, best known for his black-and-white photographs. While his content could be shocking, Mapplethorpe was also highly attuned to his medium's formal, more traditional elements; his pictures are deeply concerned with composition, color, texture, balance, and beauty. This is particularly evident in his later studio photography, which features nudes, flowers, and formal portraits. His legacy has been cemented with exhibitions at the Guggenheim Museum, Kunsthal Rotterdam, Tate Modern, and Musee Rodin.