Dear Shaded Viewers,
“Gian Paolo Barbieri’s Summer, pop-up exhibition – Beyond Fashion” is a retrospective celebrating the iconic fashion photographer’s illustrious career, including his milestone of shooting the first cover for Vogue Italia. Curated by Milan-based gallerists 29 Arts in Progress in collaboration with Fondazione Gian Paolo Barbieri, the exhibition is hosted by House of Lucie Ostuni in Puglia, Italy, and runs until August 31st, 2024.
The exhibition showcases Barbieri’s masterworks, including unpublished photographs from the 1960s to 2000. Highlights feature intimate shots of icons like Veruschka, Naomi Campbell, Marpessa, Eva Herzigova, Monica Bellucci, and Isabella Rossellini, alongside legendary campaigns for Giorgio Armani, Versace, Ferrè, and Vivienne Westwood. Barbieri’s unique perspective on Italian fashion transformed the narrative, becoming a trusted ally to designers and interpreting the most beautiful chapter of the “Made in Italy” era.
The exhibition also introduces the public to Barbieri’s innovative set design and styling, blending irony, culture, and art history. His photography, rich with eclectic outdoor set designs and cinematic references from his early experience at Cinecittà in Rome, liberates his subjects from classic poses, revealing a new, sensual elegance.
Barbieri, awarded the 2018 Lucie Award for Best International Fashion Photographer, has deeply influenced fashion photography with his artistic vision and use of lighting. His work spans over 60 years, gracing the pages of Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, Vogue America, L’Officiel, GQ, and Vanity Fair. His photographs are part of prestigious collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery in London, and the Musée du quai Branly in Paris.
House of Lucie, established in 2016 by Hossein Farmani, is a contemporary photography space presenting rotating exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and events. It showcases the work of Lucie Awards honorees and supports professional and amateur photographers worldwide.
