Shawn Mortensen (1965-2009) was a Los Angeles based photographer, artist, director and activist. He 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, Guggenheim Museum, International Center of Photography,  J. Paul Getty Museum,  the Grammy Museum,  Annenberg Museum. and 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, Blackbook, Interview, Vanity Fair,  American and British Vogue, Dazed, Harper's Bazaar, GQ Italia, Esquire and countless other publications. He photographed advertising campaigns for Nike, Supreme,  Kodak, Coca-Cola, Levi's, 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,  thiopia 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 collaborate 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 it 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 he 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 qualify. Every subject was given equal 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 Shawn's 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 2002 and his second book, Out of Mind  published by Abrams Books 2007.

Shawn's photographs were included in the Brooklyn Museum 2009-2013 touring exhibit, Who Shot Rock & Roll  and accompanying book by author Gail Buckland.  The Grammy Museum featured his Biggie Smalls phoro in their 2011 exhibition and book, Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey. His  images of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg  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 also  featured Shawn's Biggie images.  His photographs of Tupac,  Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg  are displayed in the Fotografiska Museum New York 2023-2024 global touring  exhibition,  Hip- Hop:  Conscious, Unconscious celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. His  iconic Tupac images were included in the  acclaimed 2023 TV miniseries Dear Mama .