Lucien Clergue was born in Arles (France) in 1934, he learns violin before but decides to be a photographer. He works until 27 and publishes his first book « Corps Mémorable » (Seghers Editions) in 1958 illustrated by the poet Paul Eluard, Picasso and Cocteau.
Since then, he published more than 75 books in France, USA, Japan, Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Canada. « Née de la Vague » (Belfond Edition) in 1968 is his most famous book which marked a all generation.

 « Grands Nus » in 1999 (Umshau/Braus Edition). « Poésie Photographique » in 2003 and a big monography in 2007 "Lucien Clergue" 50 years of photography (La Martinière edition) .

 
Lucien Clergue directed about 20 short films. He receives the Prix Louis Lumière in 1966 for « Drame du taureau». He is selected in 1968 at Festival de Cannes and at the Oscars in Hollywood with « Delta de Sel ».
In 1969 he creates the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie in Arles (France) and will be the director for many years.
In 1979, he becomes Doctor at University of Provence, Marseille (France), he is the first person to present a thesis in images only "Langage des Sables ". Roland Barthes will write the introduction. In 1982, he contributes to the birth of the National School of Photography in Arles (France).

 He will be a teacher there until 1999. He is invited in American universities, Japanese Universities. He gives workshops in France, Italy, Spain, USA. He gives a lecture at Harvard University in1996, on the ocasion of the gift of 450 photographs of his from the Collection Reber at the Fogg Museum.
Collections: MOMA (New York), Art Institute Museum, Chicago, University of Maryland (Baltimore), Metropolitan Museum, New York, Mexico, Ottawa, Israël Museum, Jerusalem, MEP, Paris (France), Centre Pompidou, Paris (France), Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (France), FNAC, Paris (France), Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Musée Réattu d’Arles, MONUM.

In 1984 he exhibits at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris for 30 years of work, then in 1985 at the Georges Eastman House and at ICP (New York) « Lucien Clergue : Eros et Thanatos » with an introduction by Michel Tournier.

More retrospectives will follow: 1997 at the Museum of Photography, Riverside, Ca,(US) in 1999 at Musée d’Art et de Culture, Dortmund, (Germany) , in 2000 at John Stevenson Gallery, New York, (US) in 2001 at Villa Aurélienne, Fréjus, (France) in 2002 in Vittoria, (Spain) in 2005 in Münich, Galerie Bernheimer, in 2006 L.A,Ca at Galerie Louis Stern, in 2007 at Espace Van Gogh, Arles (France), in Vienne at the KunstHaus (Autriche) in Münster and Erlangen (Germany).

In 2009, he exhibits "Picasso intimate" at Louis Stern Fine Arts, West Hollywood (USA), in Arles (France) "Les Gitans et leur Prince José Reyes" at Palais de l'Archevêché, in Aix en Provence (France) "Picasso chez Cézanne" at Atelier Cézanne and Cité du Livre, at Musée Marmottan in Paris (France) "Lucien Clergue-Yann Athus Bertrand, Deux Photographes Académiciens".
In 2010, he exhibits in Arles (France), "Clergue dans l'arène, 50 ans de tauromachie" at Palais de l'Archevêché, in New York (USA) at Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery, in Luxembourg at Galerie Clairefontaine. He presents his work on Picasso in China at Caochangdi Photospring Festival- Les Rencontres d'Arles in Beijing.
In 2011, he exhibits in Moscow (Russia), at Maison de la Photographie, "Lucien Clergue: Jean Cocteau et le Testament d'Orphée" and "Hommage à Marlène Dietrich: Collection Lucien Clergue". He is invited at Nordic Light Photo Festival in Kristiansund (Norway). He presents "Clergue in America" at Palais de l'Archevêché in Arles (France).

In 1986 he is Photographer of the Year at Photo-Fiesta, (Japan). In 2000, he is photographer of the Year in Benevento (Italy),he receives the Lucie Award « Outstanding Life Achievement in Fine Art Photography » in New York in 2005. Publishes at Actes Sud « Phénixologie », from Jean Cocteau's film « Le Testament d’Orphée » and « Portraits » in 2005.
He is decorated as Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, Commandeur des Arts et Lettres, et Académicien des Beaux Arts.