The 2025 Pirelli Calendar Will Usher in a New Way to “Refresh and Reveal” by Photographer Ethan James Green
In a world gone fully digitally-native, you would be hard-pressed to find an art-form or daily task which has survived the digital revolution. Not so, the Pirelli Calendar which has stood the test of time in its original analogue format, beloved for its iconic photography of a diverse range of stars of the day, chosen by the photographer of the year, they have now become collectors items for the former reason, but also for the fact that they are not actually sold by the brand, making them an instant classic coveted by many. Pirelli Executive Vice Chairman, Marco Tronchetti Provera explained to The Impression “The Pirelli calendar doesn’t have customers, its free so doesn’t promote or advertise, instead it promotes the idea of the company, of quality, of freedom, being multi-cultural. It expresses how the company is linked to culture and contemporary art. The value that Pirelli provides is a combination of arts, culture, and industry”.
Its exciting to bring it back to the original Pirelli Calendar concept (celebrating nudity), just because the world has changed so much since, so I’m able to be one of the first photographers to step into a new idea of what beauty is and who can be sexy…and sexy means confidence, its a huge part of it”
Ethan James Green, Photographer, 2025 Pirelli Calendar
The 2025 Pirelli calendar, titled ‘Refresh and Reveal’ was lensed by Ethan James Green, one of 43 to have been “called to shoot the Pirelli Calendar in its 61-year history from 1964 to 2025” according to the brand. In order to arrive at his theme for 2025 the photographer looked to the Pirelli calendar archive, the 50 years of Pirelli book, along with a decades-worth of calendars. The project was styled by renowned industry veteran Tonne Goodman who worked with Green as fashion director and creative consultant, in conversation with The Impression at the press preview Goodman shared that in order to fulfil the ‘Reveal’ part of the brief part of her challenge was that she had to put something on this years subjects in the first instance, saying “When Hunter (Schafer) came in she was so happy to look at these clothes that were not fashion, and she was one of the subjects who embraced the putting on, and taking off more than anyone else”.
The 2025 cast of 12 represents an international roster of talent who were captured in both a black and white studio shot and a colour photo taken on Miami’s Virginia Key Beach Park, a location selected for its ability to convey a lightness and sensuality within the images shot by the photographer. The full cast included American actress, model, and activist Hunter Schafer, Indian-American television presenter and writer Padma Lakshmi, French actor Vincent Cassel, Italian singer, actress and model Elodie, British actress Simone Ashley, South Korean
actress Hoyeon, British actress Jodie Turner-Smith, American artist Martine Gutierrez, American model and fashion illustrator Connie Fleming, British actor John Boyega, and American model Jenny Shimizu (also featured in the 1997 Avedon Calendar). Each figure brought their own unique background to “Refresh and Reveal,” portraying Green’s personal exploration of identity, beauty, and the human form, irregardless of gender. In a nod to Pirelli’s progressive evolution, Green himself appears in the calendar, marking a rare occurrence of the photographer joining the cast — just the third time this has happened in the calendar’s storied history, after Prince Gyasi in 2024 and Bryan Adams in 2022. Green also told The Impression during the press preview that he would continue down the path of modelling, alongside his photography, having just signed with IMG Models.
Ethan James Green, a Michigan native now based in New York, is highly regarded in fashion photography, having captured icons like Rihanna and Christy Turlington. His work, often shot in black-and-white, reflects an intimate perspective on his subjects, frequently focusing on themes of identity and community. Green’s creative journey includes celebrated collaborations with major publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and The New Yorker. His own evolution as an artist has been marked by a commitment to New York’s artistic community; in 2022, he founded New York Life Gallery, a space dedicated to emerging artists, underscoring his dedication to cultural and creative innovation.
The Pirelli Calendar itself has seen dramatic evolution since its inception in 1964, from a niche corporate gift to an iconic annual publication that captures the shifts in cultural aesthetics. Each edition reflects the contemporary zeitgeist, whether through the supermodel glamour of the ’90s or the empowering female portraits by Annie Leibovitz in 2016. With “Refresh and Reveal,” Green not only honours the sensual roots of the calendar but also redefines beauty by blending classic Pirelli values with a deeply personal artistic vision, ensuring that the calendar remains a lasting emblem of art, fashion, and cultural introspection.
This is what we wanted, he (Ethan James Green) did it perfectly, my reaction on seeing the first photos was that [Green] was able to catch the spirit of the brand…the eye of the photographer has to be very special to be able to capture a fraction of a second when everything is in harmony. [For the 2025 calendar] I think of beauty and freedom, the feeling is its a positive message.
Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Executive Vice Chairman.
