Gian Paolo Barbieri. A Journey Through the Gaze
The Gian Paolo Barbieri Foundation ETS is pleased to announce its collaboration on the exhibition “Gian Paolo Barbieri. A Journey Through the Gaze”, presented by FIAF – the Italian Federation of Photographic Associations – at the CIFA (Italian Center of Author Photography) in Bibbiena, from April 11 to June 2, 2026.
This important exhibition is dedicated to the legacy of Gian Paolo Barbieri, retracing over sixty years of his artistic journey and highlighting the depth of a vision capable of combining aesthetic rigor, visual culture, and narrative intensity. Through a carefully curated selection of works, the exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the evolution of an artist who profoundly shaped the language of contemporary photography.
Curated by Giovanna Calvenzi and Claudio Pastrone, the exhibition is organized into four thematic chapters—fashion, ethnography, eroticism, and still life—reflecting the categories through which Barbieri himself interpreted his work. This structure reveals the coherence and versatility of a practice that moves across different visual territories while maintaining a distinct expressive identity.
From the iconic fashion images that redefined the visual codes of style to the more intimate and lyrical works born from his travels, each section highlights Barbieri’s ability to transform photography into a powerful narrative language. The exhibition also emphasizes the sculptural elegance of his representations of the human body and the refined precision of his still lifes, where light and form interact with extraordinary balance.
As part of the historic series “Great Authors of Contemporary Photography,” now in its twenty-fifth edition, the exhibition stands as a tribute to Barbieri’s enduring influence and his remarkable ability to transcend the boundaries of fashion photography, affirming his role as a central figure in the broader cultural landscape of contemporary art.
INFORMATION
April 11 – June 2, 2026
• Tue–Sat: 9:30 am–12:30 pm / 3:30 pm–6:30 pm
• Sun & public holidays: 10:00 am–12:30 pm
• Monday: closed
CIFA – Italian Center of Author Photography
Via delle Monache 2, 52011 Bibbiena (AR), Italy