Rafael Pavarotti, photographe

Musée des Arts décoratifs

The musée des Arts décoratifs presents for the first time in France, from October 2, 2026 to May 2, 2027, the work of the Brazilian photographer, Rafael Pavarotti. More than 200 prints are exhibited and set alongside photographs from the museum, ranging from the largest covers of the greatest fashion magazines, to portraits of international pop culture stars such as Rihanna, Harry Styles and Beyoncé, as well as the campaigns he composes for major fashion houses. What emerges is a colorful and powerful style, creating strong and unique images. Rafael Pavarotti's personal history, born in the state of Pará in the Amazon rainforest in 1993, resonates in his approach to photography. The strong women of his family, his grandmother's brightly colored dishware, but also the natural environment in which he grew up occupy an important place among his sources of inspiration. Rafael Pavarotti taught himself photography at age 12 by taking his father's camera. Four years later, drawn to fashion photography, he left for Rio, then São Paulo, London, before settling in Paris. He has created numerous series for prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue, i-D, Acne Paper, and even for the New York Times. His photographic style has established itself in the world of fashion and marked the campaigns of numerous fashion houses such as Dior, Balmain, Margiela, Ferragamo and even L'Oréal. In February 2022, he distinguished himself with the cover of British Vogue with « As the world turns » which shows nine Black models. Afro-indigenous, Rafael Pavarotti asserts his desire to work for future generations by creating models that will allow all children to recognize and project themselves, regardless of their skin color. Through the highlighting of bodies rarely represented in fashion, he questions the political and social dimension of this industry. He conveys this message through colorful, powerful photographs, sometimes playing with a pop or surrealist spirit, that tell stories: his own, but also those of the models whose memories and ideas he solicits.

Source: Paris Open Data ↗