The Marta Ortega Foundation highlights Irving Penn in its next exhibition

The Marta Ortega Pérez Foundation (MOP), chaired by the president of Inditex, is opening its fourth photography exhibition this November. The exhibition, entitled 'Irving Penn: Centennial', is dedicated to the American photographer Irving Penn and will be the first major retrospective of his work in Spain organised by the foundation.

Following three major exhibitions held in recent years, in which iconic photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel and Helmut Newton have participated, the MOP Foundation is opening its next exhibition on November 23, an exclusive exhibition in Spain that will be open to the public until November 23.

'Irving Penn: Centennial' will offer a retrospective of the American photographer, born in 1917, which will include around 175 photographs taken from the late 1930s until his death in 2009. The exhibition is curated in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Irving Penn Foundation.

According to a statement from the MOP Foundation, Irving Penn was one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, recognized for his meticulousness, his minimalist style, his mastery of printmaking and his bold artistic experiments. Penn, a regular contributor to Vogue for more than 70 years, “revolutionized fashion photography by portraying models against neutral backgrounds to highlight textures, gestures and expressions.”

The A Coruña retrospective will include Penn’s diverse range of subject matter, from cultural icons and workers to abstract nudes and street scenes, floral compositions and still lifes. Also on display will be notable portraits of celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn and designers such as Gianni Versace, Issey Miyake and Yves Saint Laurent, along with writers and artists such as Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Salvador Dalí, Zaha Hadid and Richard Avedon.

Marta Ortega, president of the MOP Foundation and Inditex, said: “Irving Penn’s image creation is exemplary; in his hands, the everyday becomes extraordinary, revealing the profound beauty of simplicity.”

She described the exhibition as “a wonderful journey through the lens of one of photography's greatest practitioners,” celebrating “the artistry, vision and impression of a photographer whose work remains as relevant and powerful as it was decades ago.”

The MOP Foundation, established in April 2022 as a private non-profit entity, aims to promote and disseminate culture, art and literature, with a special focus on audiovisual arts and photography. At the same time, the entity seeks to enhance the international recognition of A Coruña, the region where Inditex was founded and where its headquarters are located in Arteixo. The Foundation also carries out cultural projects and maintains an educational program related to photography.

In May, the Official State Gazette confirmed the transfer of land at the Muelle de Batería for the Foundation's cultural activities over the next six years.

Triana Alonso with EFE