The Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris will present the first major French photography exhibition dedicated to Rafael Pavarotti, opening from September 23rd, 2026, to May 2nd, 2027. Bringing together fashion, portraiture, and visual storytelling, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at Rafael Pavarotti photography, positioning the Brazilian artist as one of the most influential voices in contemporary fashion photography.
Rafael Pavarotti in Focus
This Paris exhibition marks a significant moment in Rafael Pavarotti’s career, introducing his work to French museum audiences on an unprecedented scale. More than 200 photographic prints are on view, presented in dialogue with the museum’s own photography collections. Rather than a simple retrospective, the exhibition unfolds as a curated journey through editorial images, iconic portraits, and fashion campaigns that have defined his visual language.
Visitors will encounter celebrated magazine covers alongside portraits of global pop culture figures such as Rihanna, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé, as well as imagery created for leading fashion houses including Dior, Balmain, Maison Margiela, Ferragamo, and L’Oréal. Together, these works reveal a style marked by saturated color, frontal compositions, and a striking sense of presence.
Fashion, identity, and visual power
At the heart of Rafael Pavarotti photography lies a deeply personal approach shaped by the artist’s background. Born in 1993 in the state of Pará, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, Pavarotti draws inspiration from his childhood environment, the strong women in his family, and the vivid colors of everyday life. These influences translate into images that feel both intimate and monumental.
Self-taught, he discovered photography at a young age before moving through Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and London, eventually settling in Paris. His work consistently blurs the boundaries between fashion imagery and cultural commentary, using the language of fashion photography to explore identity, representation, and visibility.
A contemporary vision of fashion photography
A defining moment highlighted in the exhibition is his 2022 British Vogue cover, As the World Turns, featuring seven Black models. This project encapsulates Pavarotti’s commitment to expanding representation within the fashion industry and addressing its social and political dimensions. His photographs, which are often infused with pop or surrealist undertones, are conceived as collaborations with his subjects, with their stories woven into his own visual narrative.
Photography by RAFAEL PAVAROTTI
