Vivian Maier, The Exhibition: Photography as Life in Padua, Italy
From April 25th to September 28th, 2025, the Centro Culturale Altinate San Gaetano in Padua hosts the most extensive retrospective ever dedicated to Vivian Maier, one of the most fascinating and mysterious photographers of the 20th century. With over 200 photographs in black and white and color, previously unseen documents, Super 8 videos, personal objects, and immersive rooms, the exhibition "Vivian Maier. The Exhibition" tells not only the story of her work but also the extraordinary life of a woman who made photography her reason for living—without ever seeking the spotlight.
LEFT: Vivian Maier - Self-Portrait, New York, NY, 1954, Gelatin silver print, 2012, 40x50 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY; RIGHT: Vivian Maier, Armenian woman fighting on East 86th Street, New York, NY, September 1956, Gelatin silver print, 2012, 40x50 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof, Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY
An Unconventional Biography
Vivian Maier (1926–2009) was born in New York to a French mother and an Austrian father. She spent part of her childhood in France before returning to the United States, where she worked all her life as a nanny. Behind this seemingly ordinary existence, she nurtured a secret and intense passion for photography, roaming the streets of Chicago and New York armed with her inseparable Rolleiflex. She captured faces, daily scenes, and fleeting details, never showing anyone her immense archive: over 150,000 negatives discovered only after her death. Maier's work came to light thanks to John Maloof, who in 2007 accidentally bought her materials at a storage auction, helping to reveal to the world a great artist who had remained unknown until then.
LEFT: Vivian Maier Untilted, September 1961, Gelatin silver print, 2020, 40x50 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY; RIGHT: Vivian Maier, New York Public Library, NY, c. 1954, Gelatin silver print, 2012, 40x50 cm, © Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY
Self-Portraits: The Photographer Who Hid in Plain Sight
The first section of the exhibition is dedicated to self-portraits: images of reflections, shadows, and mirrored surfaces where Maier appears only partially, as if to assert her existence without ever fully exposing herself. Hers is a silent dialogue with the viewer and with herself—an unintentional precursor to today's visual language of selfies. Unlike contemporary self-portraits that often seek visibility, Maier’s approach was one of discretion and subtlety. Her presence, always on the margins of the frame, invites us to rethink how we look at ourselves and others in an era of constant self-representation.
LEFT: Vivian Maier, New York, NY, October 18, 1953, Gelatin silver print, 2012, 40x50 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY; RIGHT: Vivian Maier - Self-Portrait, New York, NY, 1953, Gelatin silver print, 2012, 40x50 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of MaloofCollection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY.
A Gaze on the City and Everyday Humanity
Following Maier through the streets of Chicago and New York, visitors encounter the vibrant soul of post-war American cities. Children, women, the homeless, workers—every face captured with spontaneity tells an authentic fragment of reality. Her empathetic gaze reveals the often-overlooked beauty of the everyday.
The Hidden Side of the American Dream
Through images of the suburbs, social outcasts, and the invisible, Maier courageously documents what lay behind the glittering facade of the American Dream. Her photographs become both testimony and subtle critique, never losing respect or sensitivity toward her subjects.
Super 8: When Photography Becomes Cinema
In the 1960s, Maier explored the language of film through Super 8 footage that shares the same visual sensitivity as her still images. Urban reality, spontaneous scenes, and minimal movements—all filmed honestly and without edits—bring the vitality of American cities to life.
The Color of the Ordinary
With a 35mm Leica, Maier also produced color photographs that, though lesser known, are no less powerful. The vivid tones of Chicago’s working-class neighborhoods give a new dimension to her work: a visual blues composed of simple and dignified life, chipped walls, and meaningful glances. Photographs of children hold a special place in the exhibition. Working as a nanny for nearly forty years, Maier developed a deep connection with the world of childhood, capturing its spontaneity, emotions, and contradictions. Each image conveys empathy and truth.
Abstraction Born from Detail
The final section introduces a lesser-known aspect of Maier’s work: abstract photography. Everyday objects seen up close are transformed into almost dreamlike compositions—visual games that showcase her ability to find poetry in the unexpected.
"Vivian Maier. The Exhibition" is more than a retrospective—it is a tribute to a woman who quietly revolutionized street photography. An exhibition that moves, surprises, and invites us to see reality with new eyes. Curated by Anne Morin, produced by Arthemisia in collaboration with Vivian Maier's Estate and the John Maloof Collection, it stands out as one of the most anticipated cultural events of the Italian summer.
LEFT: Vivian Maier, Central Park, New York, NY, September 26,1959, Gelatin silver print, 1959, 25,3x20,4 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY; RIGHT: Vivian Maier, Chicago, IL, 1962, Gelatin silver print, 2020, 40x50 cm, ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY
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