Born in New York City, Roger Ballen moved to South Africa in the 1970s, where he began his career as a geologist while documenting the rural towns and inhabitants of the region. His early work focused on stark, black-and-white documentary photography, which gradually shifted toward a more stylized and fictionalized approach.

Over the past five decades, Ballen has expanded his practice beyond photography to include film, installation, sculpture, and drawing. His signature aesthetic—often termed Ballenesque—incorporates chaotic environments, wires, and childlike markings to create existential psychodramas that challenge the viewer's perception of reality and the psyche.

Ballen continues to be recognized for his unique visual language, which interrogates themes of madness, order, and the relationship between humans and animals. His work is held in numerous international museum collections and remains a significant influence in contemporary photography and installation art.