The exhibition explores the creative partnership between Peter Knapp and André Courrèges, examining how fashion, photography, and modern art converged during a transformative period of the 1960s
From May 14 through November 1, 2026, Fondation Maeght presents Peter Knapp: The Era of Courrèges, its first thematic exhibition dedicated to the intersection of fashion and art. Curated by photographer Peter Knapp, the exhibition revisits the revolutionary visual language that emerged from his long-standing collaboration with André Courrèges, bringing together photography, archival materials, and original garments that helped define one of fashion’s most transformative decades.
The exhibition centers on Courrèges’ landmark Spring 1965 haute couture collection, a presentation that challenged prevailing conventions through architectural silhouettes, structured white forms, and a radically modern vision of femininity. Widely recognized as a turning point in fashion history, the collection introduced what became known as the Courrèges aesthetic and reflected broader cultural shifts taking place across art, design, and society during the decade.
Knapp, who photographed the collection for Elle magazine’s March 1965 issue, approached the work with unusual creative freedom. His resulting images departed from traditional fashion photography, presenting models suspended in space through dynamic compositions that emphasized movement, geometry, and optimism. Those photographs form the core of the exhibition, accompanied by large-scale prints, archival documents, and original looks from the collection loaned by the House of Courrèges.
The exhibition also reflects Fondation Maeght’s longstanding role as a meeting place for artists across disciplines. Opened in 1964 in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the institution became a significant cultural hub during a period of rapid creative experimentation. Courrèges himself was drawn to the Foundation shortly after its opening, joining a community that included artists, writers, choreographers, and intellectuals who were redefining the cultural landscape of the era.
Founded in 1961, Courrèges established a reputation for challenging established notions of couture through an emphasis on movement, functionality, and futurist design. Knapp became one of the designer’s most important visual collaborators, documenting the evolution of the house over a period of more than two decades. Their partnership helped shape how modern fashion was seen and understood, creating images that remain influential across both fashion and photography.
The exhibition arrives as Courrèges continues its contemporary evolution. Under Creative Director Nicolas Di Felice and Artistic Director Drew Henry, who joined the house in 2026, the brand has continued to reinterpret its founding principles for a new generation while maintaining a dialogue with its modernist heritage.
By placing Courrèges’ groundbreaking fashion imagery within the broader context of postwar artistic innovation, Peter Knapp: The Era of Courrèges highlights the enduring relationship between fashion, photography, and contemporary culture. It also underscores the role institutions such as Fondation Maeght continue to play in preserving and reexamining the creative movements that shaped modern visual history.
