MAR – RAVENNA
May 21, 2026 – December 31, 2026
From May 21, 2026, MAR will inaugurate the Paolo Roversi Gallery, a permanent space dedicated to the great photographer from Ravenna, one of the most influential figures in contemporary international photography.
The gallery presents a journey through the artist’s visual universe: iconic portraits, fashion photographs, and still lifes alternate in an environment reminiscent of the studio, the central space of his creative practice. Here, photography becomes an experience, constructed through the relationship between light, shadow, and matter.
Roversi’s work is recognized by a suspended and intense aesthetic, in which images seem to emerge from the darkness or dissolve into light. His shots, often made with analog techniques and long exposures, convey a poetic and timeless vision, where the body and face become fragile and luminous presences.
The exhibition features some of his most famous portraits, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Tennant, Natalia Vodianova, Rihanna, Golshifteh Farahani, and his daughter Stella Roversi.
His research engages profoundly with the city of Ravenna: his works embody the same qualities of light, matter, and suspension that characterize Byzantine mosaics. As in the mosaic surfaces of San Vitale or Galla Placidia, in his photographs, light not only illuminates, but also constructs the image, passes through it, and transforms it.
Light, a fundamental element of Roversi’s language, guides the visitor through an experience of apparitions, silences, and subtle perceptual variations.
The Galleria Paolo Roversi thus offers a unique opportunity to experience the work of an artist who has redefined fashion and portrait photography, always maintaining a personal and recognizable gaze.
The Galleria Paolo Roversi was also created thanks to the European Value Plus Project (Interreg Italy–Croatia program), ENEL Green Power and the contribution of Marcegaglia, RM Srl Industrial Machinery, Service Srl. The new Gallery is a point of reference for photography enthusiasts, scholars, and visitors from all over the world, strengthening the link between Ravenna and contemporary visual arts.
