Paolo Roversi: A Retrospective at Pace Gallery
Pace Gallery in New York City presents a retrospective of Paolo Roversi, one of the most influential figures in fashion photography. The exhibition spans more than three decades of work, featuring campaigns and collaborations that helped define the visual language of contemporary fashion.
Paolo Roversi began his career in the 1970s as a photojournalist for the Associated Press before moving to Paris at the invitation of ELLE art director Peter Knapp. His work for the magazine and commissions for Depeche Mode led to his breakthrough Dior campaign in the 1980s, which cemented his reputation in the industry.
Audrey for Dior, Studio Luce, Paris, 2016 © Paolo Roversi
Charles with Lens, Studio Luce, Paris, December 2005 © Paolo Roversi
Kirsten, Paris, 1990 © Paolo Roversi
Influenced by August Sander, Robert Frank, and Diane Arbus, Paolo Roversi developed a distinctive style using an 8×10 camera and Polaroid film to create fashion images marked by a dreamlike atmosphere. As curator Sylvie Lécallier once noted, his photography is « detached from the spirit of the times, from the ephemeral trends of fashion. It is located both at the heart of fashion and at the edge. »
Paolo and Robert, Mabou, 2001 © Paolo Roversi
Hawk, Paris, 2020 © Paolo Roversi
Guinevere for “Blood and Roses”, Studio Luce, Paris, 2017 © Paolo Roversi
The exhibition “Along the Way” is on view at Pace Gallery in New York City until October 25th.
