Penn & Fashion

From 30 September 2026 to 17 January 2027, the MEP presents the PENN & FASHION exhibition. It pays tribute to Irving Penn, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The author of a body of work always ahead of its time, Irving Penn profoundly marked the history of fashion photography through his collaboration of over sixty years with Vogue magazine. His refined aesthetic, like his exceptional mastery of composition, influenced generations of photographers.

The exhibition unfolds chronologically, tracing Irving Penn's career from 1947 to 2008.

It begins in the 1950s, showcasing his legendary photographs of Parisian haute couture collections by designers such as Dior and Balenciaga, magnified by the era's top models like Lisa Fonssagrives and Jean Patchett.

In the 1970s, the creations of Ungaro and Courrèges and the extravagant outfits worn by Marisa Berenson or Lauren Hutton captured the photographer's attention, followed in the next decade by the designs of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld.

The exhibition also features Irving Penn's unique collaboration with Japanese designer Issey Miyake, whose sculptural garments perfectly complement his refined photographic style.

Throughout his last three decades of creation, Penn maintained a consistent approach: an emphasis on silhouettes, volumes, and textures.

He photographed in colour the sumptuous gowns crafted by John Galliano or the opulent designs of Christian Lacroix, as well as Chanel's spectacular feathered headdresses, in breathtaking images.

Finally, his striking images for the beauty pages of Vogue magazine in the 1990s and 2000s bear witness to the creativity and modernity of an artist whose work is still partly to be discovered.

Always faithful to a demanding artistic vision, regardless of the commission's context, Penn contributed to bridging art, fashion, and commerce with unprecedented mastery. His work is characterised by an aesthetic of elegant simplicity.

Each image is the result of a long process of reflection, leading to timeless compositions transposed into sophisticated printing techniques, often becoming icons in the history of photography. The exhibition is primarily conceived from the collections of the MEP and Nicola Erni.

Reunited at the co