Born in Leipzig, Germany, Gursky studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under the influence of Bernd and Hilla Becher. He emerged as a significant figure in contemporary photography during the 1980s and 1990s, developing a signature style that utilizes digital post-production to create expansive, panoramic compositions.

His practice frequently focuses on themes of consumerism, industrial production, and the natural environment, often captured from a distant, detached vantage point. By layering multiple exposures or digitally altering his negatives, Gursky achieves a level of clarity and scale that challenges the traditional documentary nature of the medium.

Gursky continues to be a prominent figure in the contemporary art market and museum circuit. Recent exhibitions and gallery announcements, such as those from Sprüth Magers, highlight his ongoing engagement with environmental documentation, including his 2025 return to subjects he first photographed decades earlier.