To mark the publication of the new book on Horst P. Horst, published by Steidl, curated by creative director Beda Achermann, with texts by Susanna Brown, the Paci Contemporary gallery presents “Horst P. Horst. Color”, a major exhibition offering a fresh perspective on the work of one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. Through a selection of images drawn from his extraordinary archive, the exhibition invites the public to rediscover Horst as a true master of color, moving beyond the famous black-and-white work that established his reputation.

The result of in-depth research into thousands of prints, negatives and slides preserved by the artist over the course of more than sixty years of work, this publishing project and exhibition showcase the richness of a visual language that spans fashion photography, travel reportage, architecture, interiors and still lifes, all rendered with an extraordinarily modern sense of color.

‘The brilliant green of fresh apples, the translucent red of poppy petals, the sparkling gold of ancient relics, the shocking pink of a Schiaparelli dress: every page of this book is awash with sumptuous colors. Renowned creative director Beda Achermann has selected a series of images from the Horst P. Horst archive that show the photographer in a new light. It offers a fresh and contemporary perspective on Horst, revealing the breadth of his work across the entire spectrum of the rainbow.’ Susanna Brown.

The exhibition has been organized in collaboration with the Horst Foundation in Munich.
The president of the Horst Foundation, Gert Elfering, will be attending the opening night on Saturday 24 October.

The exhibition brings together iconic images and works rarely shown to the public. In all these images, color is not merely a descriptive element, but becomes the true protagonist of the narrative – a tool capable of evoking atmosphere, memory and emotion.

The exhibition offers the most comprehensive re-examination of Horst P. Horst’s color work, shedding light on a key chapter in his artistic practice that has long been overshadowed by his famous black-and-white photographs. Both the exhibition and the accompanying publication highlight the enduring relevance of his vision and the profound influence he has exerted on generations of contemporary photographers.

The exhibition therefore offers a unique opportunity to rediscover the work of Horst P. Horst through a selection that reveals its surprising modernity and his extraordinary ability to transform color into a poetic language, reaffirming his status as a leading figure in the history of twentieth-century photography.