MICHEL HADDI: BEYOND FASHION | 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery | Milan

29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery is delighted to announce the exhibition entitled ‘MICHEL HADDI: BEYOND FASHION’, the first major solo show in Milan by French-Algerian photographer Michel Haddi.

On display are the most exemplary images of a career spanning more than 40 years, part of an endless archive of famous faces, top models, icons and legends from the worlds of music and art. From Liza Minnelli to David Bowie, from Cameron Diaz to Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie, including unexpected shots of Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymour, Yasmin Le Bon and Veruschka, to name but a few.

In the countless faces portrayed by Haddi, he has succeeded in capturing the spirit of his time through the celebrities who have populated the history of fashion, film and music. His take is intimate, personal and unconventional, just like much of his career, which is a far cry from that of a classic fashion photographer: having survived a troubled childhood, during which he clung to his dream of becoming a photographer, Haddi has dedicated his life to illustrating some of the key players in the historical and cultural changes of the last Century with a rare ability to capture, and then successfully replicate, the deepest essence of his subjects.

The exhibition, which is divided up into two phases, will allow the public as well as collectors to grasp the essence of Haddi’s work in the most refined black and white pictures taken in his studio, as well as in his rather unusual shots packed with a street vibe and an urban soul but also with a sense of irony and sensuality that highlight the Artist’s multifaceted personality.

In order to pay tribute to such a vast line-up of photos, the second exhibition phase will present the public not only with nudes and unpublished shots, but also evocative, brightly coloured pictures packed with Nineties tropical American atmospheres, often linked to certain emblematic advertising campaigns created by Haddi for international brands such as Versace, Chanel, Armani and Yves Saint-Laurent.

Haddi, which literally translates from the Semitic language as ‘the one who sees’, has succeeded in the difficult task of seeing, precisely, the true nature of the subjects who posed for him in front of his lens – actors, models or ordinary people – and to replicate their image, at times ironically and at other profoundly: all his photographs have a story to tell because they are authentic pictures, which play with the most common human emotions and, precisely for this reason, become indelible.

The two exhibition phases will be animated by live events featuring Michel Haddi designed to encourage the public from the city of Milan to interact and liaise with the Artist in person. Updates on details and how to participate will follow.

The first phase of the exhibition will open to the public on Thursday, 19th October 2023 at the gallery in Via San Vittore 13 in Milan.

Michel Haddi (Paris, 1956)

Born in 1956 in Paris to a French Soldier he never knew and an Algerian Muslim mother, Michel Haddi had a turbulent childhood, moving between foster homes until the age of six; eventually, he ended up at the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul Orphanage in Paris. During this time, Haddi’s mother brought him copies of Vogue which fascinated him throughout his childhood, looking at the photos of great photographers. Piqued by a particular shot by Helmut Newton, Haddi aspired to leave Paris and become a photographer while working in a famous restaurant where he met personalities from the world of fashion and many stars.

In 1970, after a journey that took him by way of Saudi Arabia, Michel began assisting various photographers. Once back in London, he met his lifelong mentor Victor Herbert who set him on the path to success. In 1980 Haddi opened his first studio and then began collaborating with famous magazines such as American GQ, Jardin des Modes, and British Vogue. In 1981, Haddi was commissioned by Vogue Hommes for a ten-page photoshoot, which resulted in a long and fruitful collaboration that took him to Italy, where in 1985 he met Franca Sozzani (then Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia until 2016), Editor of Lei and Per Lui, who asked Haddi to join her team. Michel Haddi began his many travels as collaborations with The Face, GQ, The Sunday Times, Tatler, British Vogue, and many more renowned publications developed. From 1989 on, he moved around New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, and Milan working for more than 30 years as one of the leading photographers in fashion.

Michel Haddi’s editorial collaborations include the most important magazines in Europe, Asia, and the USA: Italian Vogue, Italian Glamour, Uomo Vogue, French Vogue, Vogue Hommes, British Vogue, Mademoiselle, Tatler, GQ, Allure, Vanity Fair, The Face, Arena, Interview, Details, Rolling Stone, Vibe, Elle, Premiere, Stern, The Sunday Times, The Washington Post, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire
Germany are among them. He photographed advertising campaigns for Armani, Yves Saint-Laurent, Emilio Pucci, Lancetti, Replay, Lee Jeans, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Guerlain, and many others. While living in the USA, he met and photographed many high-profile celebrities including, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, David Bowie, Uma Thurman, Francis Ford Coppola, Cameron Diaz, Faye Dunaway, Nicholas Cage, Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Angelina Jolie, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and many others, capturing intimate moments and the essence of all those he shot. A photographer and film director, Haddi is currently based in London where he also manages a publishing house, MHS publishing, which publishes his own books.

29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery

29 ARTS IN PROGRESS is a leading art photography gallery located in the historic area of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan. The gallery represents the work of internationally renowned photographers, with a focus on portraiture and fashion photography. Since its inception, the gallery has curated exhibitions in partnership with public and private museums including V&A Museum; Hong Kong Arts Centre; Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow; Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, Saint Petersburg; Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Pirelli and Triennale in Milan, Museum of Cultures in Lugano and Nicola Erni Collection in Steinhausen, Switzerland.