Gijs van der Most is a Dutch photographer and design entrepreneur whose career spans editorial portraiture, documentary photography and vintage furniture. He is also known as the husband of American comedian, actor and writer Michelle Buteau. Yet van der Most has a creative identity of his own, shaped by an interest in people, everyday environments and thoughtfully designed objects. After studying photographic design in the Netherlands, he established a career in the United States and built Van der Most Modern in Brooklyn. Here is a closer look at his photography, business ventures, marriage and family life.
Gijs van der Most: Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Gijs van der Most |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Profession | Photographer and design entrepreneur |
| Education | Photographic design at HKU in Utrecht |
| Based in | New York City |
| Spouse | Michelle Buteau |
| Marriage | July 2010 |
| Children | Twins Hazel and Otis |
| Business | Van der Most Modern |
| Photography specialties | Portrait and documentary photography |
Who Is Gijs van der Most?
Gijs van der Most was born in the Netherlands and spent many years in Amsterdam before moving to the United States. He studied photographic design at HKU, formerly known in English as the Utrecht School of the Arts, from 2000 to 2005. His professional photography career began in 2008, based on the work history cited by People and his professional profile.
Van der Most eventually based himself in New York City, where he developed parallel careers in photography and furniture retail. While his marriage to Michelle Buteau brought his name to a broader audience, his professional work reflects a long-standing engagement with visual storytelling and Dutch design.
His Career in Photography
Van der Most specializes in portrait and documentary photography. His images have appeared in publications including People, Esquire, Men’s Health and Fast Company. That range suggests an ability to work across editorial portraiture, lifestyle photography and assignments centered on real people.
His documentary work provides a clearer sense of his artistic interests. An earlier professional profile identified projects such as Used Car Salesmen, Yard Sales, Sign Jugglers and I ♥ Runyon Canyon. These series focused on recognizable parts of American life, particularly people whose jobs, habits or surroundings are easy to overlook. The same profile characterized his pictures as straightforward, personal and lightly humorous, with close attention to human behavior and environment. City Like You preserves details of these projects.
One of his projects explored religious communities in Amsterdam Southeast. In a 2011 Mossless interview, van der Most explained that he encountered congregations holding services in spaces beneath parking garages. He returned to photograph members of one congregation after receiving permission from its pastor. The project illustrates his documentary method: enter an unfamiliar setting, build trust and let individual portraits reveal the larger community.
His equipment at that stage included a Canon 5D with a portable Lumedyne flash, alongside a Mamiya RZ medium-format camera. More important than the gear was the mobility it provided. Van der Most said he valued equipment that allowed him to move quickly and respond to unfolding situations.
From the Netherlands to the United States
Van der Most’s move to America influenced both his personal life and his photographic subjects. In his Mossless interview, he said he came to New York because his future wife lived there. The couple initially maintained a long-distance relationship, and he divided his time between New York and Los Angeles after they married.
The change of setting also expanded his documentary material. American car lots, suburban yard sales, sign spinners and Los Angeles hiking culture became subjects for his camera. He approached these scenes as a Dutch observer encountering the variety of American regional life.
He has since made New York his home. His current social profile identifies him as a New York City-based photographer, design enthusiast and father.
Van der Most Modern and His Interest in Design
Photography is only one part of van der Most’s professional life. He also owns Van der Most Modern, a Brooklyn business specializing in vintage furniture, audio equipment and mid-century design.
The company’s collection includes furniture and decorative objects selected by van der Most, with an emphasis on pieces sourced from the Netherlands. Rather than functioning as a conventional mass-market retailer, Van der Most Modern is built around curation: finding distinctive objects, evaluating their design and presenting them to buyers who appreciate craftsmanship and history.
The business connects naturally with his photographic background. Both fields require an eye for proportion, material, composition and detail. A photographer frames people and spaces; a furniture curator considers how individual objects shape a room. Van der Most’s Dutch background also gives the store a direct connection to European modernism and the practical, understated qualities associated with much Dutch design.
The business has operated a physical location in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Michelle Buteau is described as a co-owner, making it a creative venture shared by the couple.
Marriage to Michelle Buteau
Gijs van der Most and Michelle Buteau met in 2008 and married in July 2010. Their relationship developed while Buteau was traveling extensively for comedy performances and van der Most was building his photography career.
Buteau has frequently discussed their marriage in interviews and stand-up comedy. Their different cultural backgrounds provide some of her material: van der Most grew up in the Netherlands, while Buteau was raised in New Jersey by parents of Jamaican and Haitian heritage. Her stories often contrast his relaxed Dutch manner with her more cautious approach to family life.
In a 2026 People interview, Buteau described their marriage as a partnership built on direct communication. She also credited van der Most with supporting her from the earlier stages of her comedy career. In her view, professional achievements belong to both of them because he has shared the demands and uncertainties behind her success.
Although Buteau turns parts of their life into comedy, she has said that she keeps boundaries around family stories. Van der Most generally maintains a quieter public presence, appearing through his work, their business and occasional events with his wife.
Gijs van der Most as a Father
Van der Most and Buteau are parents to twins Hazel and Otis, who were born via surrogate in January 2019. Their arrival followed several years of fertility treatment and unsuccessful IVF attempts.
Buteau has explained that van der Most encouraged her to consider surrogacy after seeing the physical and emotional effects of treatment. She later described the birth of their children as transformative and expressed gratitude toward their surrogate. A detailed People profile of Hazel and Otis confirms that the twins were born in Pennsylvania and that both parents were present for their arrival.
The couple’s parenting styles reflect their backgrounds. Buteau has portrayed herself as highly alert to possible risks, while van der Most takes a calmer approach and encourages the children to solve problems independently. That contrast has become a recurring source of humor in her writing and performances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gijs van der Most do?
Gijs van der Most is a professional photographer and design entrepreneur. His photography includes portraits, editorial assignments and documentary projects. He also runs the Brooklyn furniture business Van der Most Modern.
Where is Gijs van der Most from?
He is from the Netherlands and lived in Amsterdam before relocating to the United States. He is now based in New York City.
Is Gijs van der Most married to Michelle Buteau?
Yes. Gijs van der Most and Michelle Buteau met in 2008 and married in July 2010.
Do Gijs van der Most and Michelle Buteau have children?
They have twins, a daughter named Hazel and a son named Otis. The children were born via surrogate in January 2019.
What is Van der Most Modern?
Van der Most Modern is a Brooklyn-based business focused on vintage furniture, mid-century pieces, Dutch design and audio equipment. Van der Most personally curates much of its collection.
How old is Gijs van der Most?
His exact birth date has not been established by a dependable first-party source. Websites offering a precise age or birth year give conflicting details and should be treated cautiously.
Conclusion
Gijs van der Most has built a career around two complementary forms of visual culture: photography and furniture design. His documentary projects examine people in their everyday surroundings, while Van der Most Modern brings his curatorial eye to vintage Dutch and mid-century objects. He is also Michelle Buteau’s longtime husband, creative partner and the father of their twins. Together, these roles present a more complete picture of a Dutch photographer whose work extends well beyond his connection to the entertainment industry.
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