Born in 1974, Davide Monteleone spent his first 18 years living in various cities in Italy, as his parents moved frequently for work. He gave up a study of engineering to move first to the US, and then to the UK, where he discovered an interest in photography and journalism. Back in Italy in 2000, he completed studies in photography and began to work with major Italian magazines. At the end of 2001, Monteleone moved again, this time to Moscow, where he lived permanently until 2003, working as correspondent for the photo agency Contrasto. This decision determined his ensuing career. He start working regularly with major national and international newspapers such as D, Io Donna, l'Espresso, The New York Times, Time, Stern and The New Yorker, to name just a few. Since 2003, Monteleone has lived between Italy and Russia, pursuing long-term personal projects and continuing his editorial work. He published his first book Dusha, Russian Soul in 2007, followed by La Line Inesistente, in 2009. His photojournalism has won him numerous accolades, including the World Press Photo prizes in 2007 and 2009, the International Photo Award in 2008, an Emerging Photographer Grant, a Freelens Award and many others. In recent years, alongside the editorial work, Monteleone has started exhibiting and teaching.
