Shawn Mortensen (1965-2009) was a Los Angeles-based photographer, artist, director, and activist. Shawn was raised in Orange County, California, attended Regents College in London, and then USC, where he majored in art and film. His photographs have been exhibited at New York's Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, the Grammy Museum, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Anneberg Museum,  the International Center of Photography, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Fotografiska Museum. His iconic photos appeared on the covers of The Source, VIBE, ego trip, SPIN, XXL, Trace, The New Order and featured in I-D, Flaunt, Interview, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, American and British Vogue, Dazed, GQ Italia, Esquire, Paper Paper, Blackbook  and countless other publications. He photographed advertising campaigns for Supreme, Nike, Kodak, Coca-Cola, Levi's, FUCT, Stussy, Jolie Jeans and Adriano Goldschmied. He also won an MTV music video award for Best Director. 

A global traveler, Shawn captured the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico; he documented the dance halls and shantytowns of Kingston, Jamaica, the people of South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Mongolia. He simply did not go to these far lands to take photographs, he was an activist. He was involved in AIDS awareness and went to South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria to create an MTV short documentary and also collaborated with the REDHOT organization, just one of the many causes he helped. His photographs gave the subject a sense of dignity no matter who it was, be a celebrity, a socialite or an AIDS orphan. That came from his incredible sense of humility. 

His former agent from Montage, Leigh Anderson wrote, "Shawn was one of the most talented photographers I've ever known, but that's only a part of what made him so remarkable. He was incredibly passionate about art and culture but humble about his place in that community. He knew everyone, and had the best stories, but never dropped names. Shawn knew what most thoughtful and intelligent people do, that people's lives, however simple, make the best art. What made him unique was how he executed that quality. Every subject was given respect, equal measure. Not many contemporary photographers could do what he did - reconcile the business of photography with a sincere sense of social responsibility. More important than his photography was who he was outside of it - he was a fiercely loyal friend and a true gentleman."

During his lifetime, he completed two books, It's My Life...OR It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time, published by BAPE Gallery/A Bathing Ape Japan, 2002.  And, his second book, OUT OF MIND, published by Abrams Books NYC, 2007. 

Acclaimed artist, Jennifer Chapman said, "Shawn hit the scene during the rush of Hip Hop and Punk rock music, capturing the most iconic photographs of these explosive artists making their debut on the music scene. He also photographed many of the legends of Hollywood documented in his book. He was well loved by all who knew him." 

Shawn's photographs were included in the Brooklyn Museum 2009-2013 renowned traveling exhibit, Who Shot Rock & Roll and accompanying book by author Gail Buckland. The Grammy Museum featured his iconic Biggie Smalls image in their 2011 exhibition and book Hip-Hop A Cultural Odyssey. His photos of Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre were included in the 2017 HBO documentary series, The Defiant Ones. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Ceremony for Biggie Smalls and the Netflix 2021 documentary Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell  featured Shawn's photos from Biggie's last photoshoot in Los Angeles on March 7, 1997. Shawn's  Tupac images were included in the celebrated 2023 documentary miniseries Dear Mama. His photographs of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac were displayed in the Fotografiska Museum Hip-Hop Conscious, Unconscious international  2024-2025 exhibition celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop.