Thaddaeus Ropac and Pace Gallery present Irving Penn: Edge of Beauty, an exhibition at Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery in Paris from June 22nd to July 13th, 2024. Curated by Tom Pecheux, Global Beauty Director for YSL Beauty, the show coincides with Paris Fashion Week. The exhibition features 14 photographs, both iconic and lesser-known, illustrating Penn’s unique blend of fashion imagery, portraiture and experimental work.
Known for his elegance and aesthetic simplicity, Irving Penn’s beauty photographs are characterised by their understated humour and technical precision. His work often combines editorial imagery with fine art, using surrealist techniques. The exhibition includes notable works such as Bee on Lips (1995), which demonstrates Penn’s use of visual puns, and Mascara Wars (2001), which highlights his ability to juxtapose beauty with latent darkness. The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of Penn’s career and illustrates his lasting influence on the world of photography.
Bee on Lips, New York, 1995 (print made in 1999)
Gerbera Dalsy/Gerbera Jamesonli ‘Husky’, New York, 2006
Protractor Face (Jalme Rishar), New York, 1994 (print made in 1996)
Chocolate Mouth, New York, 2000 (print made in 2001)
Sweetie (A), New York, 2002 (print made in 2004)
