Gallery  October 12, 2026  Nadja Sayej

5 Photo Exhibitions To Check Out This Fall

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Author: abby
© The Irving Penn Foundation

Irving Penn, 12 Models Moving Their Heads, New York, 1947, Nicola Erni Collection, Zug

Photography is having a moment this fall. Whether it's the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles (featuring photos by Gordon Parks and Dorothea Lange), or the recent reopening of the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, this often-overlooked fine art medium is being honored globally through thoughtful exhibitions that trace the history of fashion, film stills, documentary, and more.

If you’re traveling through Europe, be sure to visit the new FOTO ARSENAL WIEN in Vienna and the new Falsterbo Photo Art Museum in Falsterbo, Sweden. This all comes hot off the heels of the 61st Venice Biennale (including photo works by Dayanita Singh and Carrie Schneider), while looking forward to the opening of Fotografiska Oslo, expected in 2028.

Beyond exhibitions, this season will also feature several photo festivals. The FUJIKINA NYC 2026 photography festival runs October 16th through the 18th in New York City, while Paris Photo 2026 kicks off November 12th in Paris at the Grand Palais. Photo London's next edition will take place May 13-16, 2027.

From Berlin to Los Angeles, here are five photo exhibitions to check out this fall.

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© Juergen Teller, All rights Reserved
© Juergen Teller, All rights Reserved
1. The 90s: Art and Fashion

If you find yourself in London, check out The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain. Expect photos of Kate Moss by Juergen Teller, shots of DJ Goldie by Norman 'Normski' Anderson, photos by David Sims and Corinne Day, as well as artworks by Steve McQueen and Damien Hirst, and fashion by Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. The show makes viewers long for the days of grainy snapshots and pre-internet spontaneity in art, fashion, and photography. 

Curated by former British Vogue Editor Edward Enninful, the show features over 100 artworks by 70 artists and captures the essence of a DIY anti-fashion aesthetic that rebelled against polish and gloss. One highlight includes Mark Leckey's Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore, a 1999 video that features clips of UK nightlife subcultures from the 1970s to the 1990s, showing what partying was like pre-smartphone. The exhibition is on view until February 14, 2027.

Image: Juergen Teller, Young Pink Kate, London 1998 

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Courtesy Third Gallery Aya, Osaka and Aperture
Courtesy Third Gallery Aya, Osaka and Aperture
2. I'm So Happy You Are Here: Japanese Women Photographers from the 1950s to Now

On view at the International Center of Photography in New York City, this show features the photos of 28 Japanese women photographers, highlighting what the female gaze looks like from Japan. The exhibition includes works by Mikiko Hara (street photography from Tokyo), Hiromix (who captured Japan’s youth in the 1990s), Mao Ishikawa (whose black-and-white portraits shed light on the Okinawa community in southern Japan), and more. Expect grainy portraits, still-life photos, and works exploring femininity and power. I'm So Happy You Are Here: Japanese Women Photographers from the 1950s to Now opens October 15 and runs through January 11, 2027.

Image: Yamazawa Eiko, What I Am Doing No. 77, 1986 

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Courtesy Margaret Herrick Library.
Courtesy Margaret Herrick Library.
3. Screenwriting: Takes on LA Noir

On view at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, Screenwriting: Takes on LA Noir is a screenwriting-centered exhibition featuring photos and other paraphernalia from various screenplays, including on-set photos from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), Raymond Chandler and Billy Wilder’s historic film Double Indemnity (1944), and The Long Goodbye (1973), written by Leigh Brackett. Expect to see how screenwriting is a kickoff point for filmmaking, learn about the definition of “LA Noir” —as all three films were based in Los Angeles—and get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes art of writing for film. The show is on view now through January 10, 2027.

Image: Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino during production of Pulp Fiction (1994), Miramax. 

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© Helmut Newton and Newton Museum
© Helmut Newton and Newton Museum
4. Helmut Newton: White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes

The German fashion photographer Helmut Newton has always been influential (and controversial) for his edgy shots of models set in otherworldly landscapes, and this exhibition is no different. Opening at the Newton Museum on December 3, White Women / Sleepless Nights / Big Nudes brings together 200 of his best photos from the 1970s and early 1980s. 

The titles come from the names of his first three photo books. White Women was Newton's first photography book featuring his nude fashion photos. It was released in 1976, when he was 56, and received the Kodak Photobook Award shortly after. His second book, Sleepless Nights, followed in 1978, and finally, his black-and-white photography series Big Nudes was released in 1981. This exhibition runs December 3, 2026 to May 16, 2027.

Image: Helmut Newton, Portrait of Karl Lagerfeld in Paris, 1976

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© The Irving Penn Foundation
© The Irving Penn Foundation
5. Penn & Fashion

In Paris, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie offers a landmark photo exhibition to honor the institute’s 30th anniversary. Penn & Fashion celebrates the fashion photography work of American fashion photographer Irving Penn, who shot for Vogue Magazine for over 50 years. The exhibition traces Penn’s career from 1947 to 2008. His stark, black-and-white photos redefined composition, used visual tricks, and changed the way we look at 20th-century photography. Expect to see timeless portraits of French fashion designers Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as shots of models on the streets of Paris, studio portraits, experimental photography, and more. The exhibition runs until January 17, 2027.

Image: Irving Penn, 12 Models Moving Their Heads, New York, 1947, Nicola Erni Collection, Zug

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