By Alessia Bellan

The first large retrospective dedicated to the Brazilian photographer is a journey of over 200 images depicting his dazzling rise. His work has redefined the collective imagery of the contemporary fashion world.

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris opens its doors to the work of Rafael Pavarotti, one of the new generation’s most influential photographers. Born in 1993 in the state of Pará, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Pavarotti transferred his most intimate roots to photographic images. The strong women of his family, brightly-coloured household objects, and the natural landscapes of his childhood generate an explosive, immediately recognisable colour palette made up of intense tones and daring compositions full of exciting impact. His career began almost as a game when at the age of twelve he secretly “borrowed” his father’s camera. By the age of sixteen he was already oriented towards the fashion world. He moved from Rio to São Paulo, then London and finally Paris, where he now lives and works. His expressive power has entranced the big names in fashion and pop culture, occupying the covers of international magazines – he works with Vogue, i-D, Acne Paper and The New York Times – and he shoots such icons as Rihanna, Harry Styles and Beyoncé. He has also put together campaigns for famous names like Dior, Balmain, Margiela, Ferragamo and L’Oréal. The Paris exhibition highlights the chromatic power and political heft of his work. Of Afro-Indigenous origin, the photographer asserts the importance of creating images that can speak across generations, providing models everyone can identify with. So, with a greater focus on individuals who are generally less well-represented within the fashion world – he shot a memorable cover for British Vogue in 2022 with nine models of African origin –  he overturned the sector’s aesthetic codes, propelling them towards new forms of inclusivity. His photographs, steeped in a pop sensibility and studded with surreal touches, portray not only fashion but also tell stories, his own and those of characters he immortalises, constructing a powerful, deeply personal visual world. One reason among many not to miss this exhibition in the heart of Paris.

‘Rafael Pavarotti, photographe’ will be at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from 23rd September to 7^th February 2027
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Rafael Pavarotti — Anok Yai dans la robe Douche
Chloé par Karl Lagerfeld (1983)
Vogue US, Mai 2023

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Nyaueth Riam et Mamuor Awak
dans des tenues Bottega Veneta
par Matthieu Blazy (2022)
Vogue, Septembre 2022