Peter Knapp at the Oana Ivan Gallery, a master’s exhibition
From January 17 to April 17, 2025, Galerie Oana Ivan is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Peter Knapp, a pioneer of fashion photography and graphic design, in Paris’s eighth arrondissement.
An opening under the banner of art and innovation
Galerie Oana Ivan, a new cultural space at 93 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, opens its doors with an exhibition devoted to Peter Knapp, a leading figure in photography and graphic design. This first exhibition highlights some fifteen works, including iconic fashion photographs and recent creations. Among the latter, collages scanned and printed on canvas using the inkjet process bear witness to the artistic evolution of Knapp, now 93.
At the opening on January 14, the artist presented a number of striking works, including a portrait of Françoise Fabian (1967), in which the actress appears masked by a veil, and a striking photograph ofAzzedine Alaïa and model Marcy Hunt (1982), brilliantly illustrating the contrast of sizes and presences.
A career combining graphic design, photography and artistic exploration
Swiss-born Peter Knapp studied graphic design and photography in Zurich, where he was influenced by the Bauhaus and the modernist ideas of Mies van der Rohe. After arriving in Paris in the 1950s, he quickly established himself as a visionary talent. Artistic director of ELLE magazine from 1959, he revolutionized the graphic standards of the time with bold compositions using diagonals and columns evoking Switzerland’s three official languages.
Beyond his work in fashion, Knapp explored a wide range of horizons, collaborating with prestigious magazines such as Vogue and the Sunday Times. His projects also led him to document exotic landscapes, such as the Afghan steppes for Zeit Magazin in 1970, and to publish books on themes as varied as Osaka.
The Oana Ivan gallery: a space designed for photography
The exhibition takes place in a sleek architectural setting designed by Eugenio Rebuzzi, known for his collaborations with fashion houses such as Hermès and Dior. The choice of black and white in the gallery perfectly matches the aesthetic of Knapp’s work, providing a sober, elegant setting for his creations. Rebuzzi explains that his intention was to “showcase the works while standing back”, a concept that reflects the gallery’s philosophy.
Gallery founder Oana Ivan chose Paris for its rich artistic heritage, noting the relative lack of spaces dedicated to photography. A former editor-in-chief of Frame magazine, she describes the exhibition as “love at first sight” for the work of Peter Knapp, justifying her choice to open with this master of the image.
Art at the crossroads of fashion and technology
At the heart of the exhibition, Knapp shares his thoughts on black and white in fashion photography, a technical choice that has become a veritable artistic language. He explains that black & white photography requires a deep reflection on textures and contrasts. Through his new colorful works, he explores another facet of his creativity, breaking away from “applied photography” to embrace a freer art form.
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