We are pleased to announce that the works of Guy Bourdin are currently featured in CHROMOTHERAPIA at Villa Medici.
This exhibition offers a vibrant journey through the history of colour photography in the 20th century, showcasing the work of 19 artists who embraced the full spectrum of chromatic expression. Divided into seven thematic chapters, CHROMOTHERAPIA explores how photographers broke free from the constraints of documentary realism, transforming colour into a powerful artistic and conceptual tool. Once dismissed or seen as secondary to black-and-white photography, colour became a means of reinvention—blurring the lines between photography, pop art, surrealism, kitsch, and baroque aesthetics.
The exhibition traces the evolution of color photography from its earliest scientific experiments in the 19th century to the Lumière brothers' groundbreaking autochrome process in 1907 and the ensuing century of chromatic exploration. Whether redefining beauty standards in magazines, elevating everyday moments, or conveying deeper political and philosophical narratives, colour photography reshaped visual culture, offering new ways of seeing and feeling the world.
Guy Bourdin’s work, known for its bold hues and striking compositions, perfectly embodies the spirit of CHROMOTHERAPIA. His images pulse with life and emotion, demonstrating the transformative power of colour in photography.
The exhibition unfolds in seven chapters:
EARLY BIRDS – Erwin Blumenfeld, Harold Edgerton, Madame Yevonde, and Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari)
RAINING CATS AND DOGS – Walter Chandoha, William Wegman, and Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari)
GLOSSY – Guy Bourdin, Hiro, and Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari)
FEMME FATALE – Adrienne Raquel, Miles Aldridge, Juno Calypso, Alex Prager, and Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari)
STRANGER THINGS – Arnold Odermatt, Sandy Skoglund
FOODORAMA – Martin Parr and Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari)
MAKE A FACE – Hassan Hajjaj, Ouka Leele, Pierre et Gilles, Ruth Ginika Ossai, and Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari)
Accompanying the exhibition is a stunning photographic book, CHROMOTHERAPIA: Feel-Good Color Photography, edited by Damiani Books and Villa Medici.
ARTISTS: Miles Aldridge, Erwin Blumenfeld, Guy Bourdin, Juno Calypso, Walter Chandoha, Harold Edgerton, Hassan Hajjaj, Hiro, Ouka Leele, Madame Yevonde, Arnold Odermatt, Ruth Ginika Ossai, Martin Parr, Pierre et Gilles, Alex Prager, Adrienne Raquel, Sandy Skoglund, Toiletpaper (Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari), William Wegman
CURATORS: Maurizio Cattelan, Sam Stourdzé
For more details on the exhibition, visit Villa Medici's website or experience CHROMOTHERAPIA in person.