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.
The show will unfold over two consecutive exhibitions, the first from 19th October to
22nd December 2023 and the second from 16th January to 16th March 2024.
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.
Cameron Diaz, Vogue Homme Magazine Venice Beach, California, 1993 © Michel Haddi / Courtesy of 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery
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present the public not only with nudes and unpublished shots, but also evocative, brightlycoloured
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.
Kate Moss for British GQ, New York, 1991 © Michel Haddi / Courtesy of 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery
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.
Linda Evangelista, Party Milan, Vanity Fair Italia, 2010 © Michel Haddi / Courtesy of 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery
Georgia May Jagger, Gala Magazine, Paris, 2017 © Michel Haddi / Courtesy of 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.
Top image: Michel Haddi © Sarah Coldron
