22 November 2000 - 28 January 2001

First Floor

The exhibition displayed a selection of the most important photographic works by Herb Ritts (Los Angeles, 1952-2002). Lent by the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain in Paris, they evoked the rigorous and disconcerting style of one of the most famous and acclaimed American photographers as distilled in approximately one hundred images, many of which had never been published. Most of the photographs on view were taken over the last fifteen years, although a few date back to Ritt's debut on the scene, like the famous shot of Richard Gere in 1978. Portraits of the stars on show included those of Mel Gibson, Liz Taylor, Clint Eastwood, and Michelle Pfeiffer; artists were represented by Keith Haring, David Hockney, Francesco Clemente, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, and Louise Bourgeois; then there were Madonna, Tina Turner, and Dizzy Gillespie for the musicians and the choreographer Merce Cunningham. Other works on exhibit included the portraits of major political figures like Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama; harrowing visions of suffering, like that of the young scientist Stephen Hawking confined to a wheelchair; as well as the well-known photographs of vigorous nudes in athletic poses, such as the shots dedicated to top model Alek Wek.

Exhibition curated by Hervé Chandès.
Mounted by Lucio Turchetta
Catalogue with an essay by Patrick Roegiers and an interview with the artist by Francois Quintin, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris; published by the Palazzo delle Esposizioni PdE Edizioni, Rome 2000.

22 November 2000 - 28 January 2001

First Floor

The exhibition displayed a selection of the most important photographic works by Herb Ritts (Los Angeles, 1952-2002). Lent by the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain in Paris, they evoked the rigorous and disconcerting style of one of the most famous and acclaimed American photographers as distilled in approximately one hundred images, many of which had never been published. Most of the photographs on view were taken over the last fifteen years, although a few date back to Ritt's debut on the scene, like the famous shot of Richard Gere in 1978. Portraits of the stars on show included those of Mel Gibson, Liz Taylor, Clint Eastwood, and Michelle Pfeiffer; artists were represented by Keith Haring, David Hockney, Francesco Clemente, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, and Louise Bourgeois; then there were Madonna, Tina Turner, and Dizzy Gillespie for the musicians and the choreographer Merce Cunningham. Other works on exhibit included the portraits of major political figures like Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama; harrowing visions of suffering, like that of the young scientist Stephen Hawking confined to a wheelchair; as well as the well-known photographs of vigorous nudes in athletic poses, such as the shots dedicated to top model Alek Wek.

Exhibition curated by Hervé Chandès.
Mounted by Lucio Turchetta
Catalogue with an essay by Patrick Roegiers and an interview with the artist by Francois Quintin, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris; published by the Palazzo delle Esposizioni PdE Edizioni, Rome 2000.