Peter Lindbergh Retrospective at Reggia di Venaria Explores Authenticity in Fashion Photography

A major retrospective of Peter Lindbergh's work is on view at the Sale delle Arti of the Reggia di Venaria in Turin. Curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot in collaboration with the late photographer, the exhibition, originally organized by Kunsthal Rotterdam, challenges fashion photography conventions through Lindbergh's signature naturalism and black-and-white aesthetic. It opens with a 1988 Vogue America shoot featuring six models in white shirts on a Malibu beach—a series the magazine initially rejected but which later redefined the industry. The show includes contact sheets, Polaroids, storyboards, and handwritten notes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at Lindbergh's process. Sections address his iconic supermodel portraits (Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford), his collaborations with dancers and choreographers (Pina Bausch, Madonna), and his use of Jenny Holzer's text works as backdrops for a 2012 Vogue Italia shoot with Milla Jovovich. Lindbergh, who died in 2019, described his approach as seeking 'the courage to be yourself.' The exhibition runs at the Reggia di Venaria.