The Influential Fashion Photographer Is Celebrated With an Exhibition in Milan
The House of Lucie Ostuni and The Lucie Awards are paying tribute to a master of contemporary fashion photography with “Gian Paolo Barbieri: Beyond Fashion,” a retrospective exhibition. This showcase, organized in collaboration with the Gian Paolo Barbieri Foundation and 29 Arts In Progress Gallery, Milan, will be on display from July 5 to August 31, 2024.
The exhibition features a range of Barbieri’s masterworks, including previously unpublished photographs spanning from the 1960s to 2000. These rare images are the result of extensive research into the artist’s archive, offering a fresh perspective on his influential career.
Gian Paolo Barbieri revolutionized Italian fashion photography, becoming a close confidant to designers who propelled the “Made in Italy” movement. His work captures the essence of this transformative era, with intimate and candid shots of models and celebrities like Veruschka, Naomi Campbell, Marpessa, Eva Herzigova, and Monica Bellucci. Iconic photographs of Audrey Hepburn in 1969 and campaigns for renowned brands such as Versace, Ferrè, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Armani also feature prominently.
The exhibition narrative highlights Barbieri’s innovative approach to set design and styling, showcasing his distinctive, ironic yet cultured photographic style. His work is rich with references to art history, eclectic outdoor set designs, and cinematic influences from his early days at Cinecittà in Rome. Barbieri believed that fashion without art is “naked and empty,” a philosophy evident in his photographs, which often depict women in unconventional, elegant poses that exude a nonchalant sensuality.
Barbieri, who won the 2018 Lucie Award for Best International Fashion Photographer (Outstanding Achievement in Fashion), is celebrated for his meticulous use of lighting, his cinematic and theatrical background, and the unique stillness of his compositions. This retrospective offers a comprehensive look at his enduring impact on fashion photography.
House of Lucie is a contemporary photography space presenting rotating exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and events. It was established in 2016 by Hossein Farmani as a contemporary photography space to showcase the extraordinary work of recipients of the Lucie Awards, which were launched in 2003 as part of the Lucie Foundation’s mission to honor master photographers, discover and cultivate emerging talent, and promote the appreciation of photography worldwide.
