William Klein: Dual Tribute at Gallery FIFTY ONE
Belgium pays tribute to a photography legend. Gallery FIFTY ONE and FIFTY ONE TOO are pleased to announce, more than three years after the passing of William Klein, a unique and exceptional exhibition dedicated to one of the most radical and visionary artists of the 20th century. This dual exhibition marks the first posthumous presentation in Belgium of his work, showcasing a previously unseen selection of iconic prints and unpublished treasures. At the heart of the exhibition lies a remarkable and never-before-seen series created in Belgium from the 50s to the 80s. Composed of original gelatin silver prints, this body of work is revealed to the public for the very first time. It captures Klein’s irreverent and poetic vision, merging urban satire with graphic provocation. These images, rich in both aesthetic and social depth, offer a renewed and intimate perspective on his photographic practice. In addition to this Belgian series, the exhibition brings together a selection of striking large-format prints that embody Klein’s intense visual language, alongside original posters and rare archival documents. These materials underline not only his talent as a photographer, but also his brilliance as a graphic designer who constantly pushed the limits of visual storytelling. The exhibition also brings together a series of iconic large-format prints. Photographer, filmmaker, painter, graphic artist, William Klein was a total artist. Bold, uncompromising, and fiercely independent, he revolutionized how we perceive images, cities, fashion, and culture. Born in New York and trained in Paris under Fernand Léger, Klein carried into all his work a sense of movement, composition, and visual experimentation. From the start, he distanced himself from the aesthetic codes of his contemporaries. His first major book, Life Is Good & Good for You in New York (1956), broke radically with traditional photographic norms. Using wide-angle lenses, motion blur, grainy film, and direct interaction with his subjects, he captured the explosive energy of urban life. His camera became a provocateur, the street a theatrical space. William Klein extended this disruptive spirit to fashion photography. During his years with Vogue, he took models out of the studio and into unpredictable, often absurd or chaotic settings. By colliding elegance with disorder, he infused fashion with irony and a sense of social commentary. His subversive sensibility also found expression in his filmmaking. In works such as Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?, Mister Freedom, and The Model Couple, he critiqued media, politics, and consumer society through satire and surrealism, echoing the same irreverence that defined his still images. This exhibition is a vivid tribute to an artist who never ceased to be bold and free, he revolutionized the way we look at the world, at images, cities, and fashion. This exhibition aims to celebrate that raw energy and uncompromising vision by shedding light on some of his lesser-known works. Alongside the exhibition, Gallery FIFTY ONE is delighted to present a new book by William Klein, honoring his enduring legacy. This new publication features photographs from Belgium, published for the first time in a volume dedicated to the artist. A special edition with a print will also be available
About the Author
William Klein (1928–2022) was a New York–born photographer, filmmaker, and artist whose radical approach reshaped the language of photography. After serving in the U.S. Army, he settled in Paris to study painting with Fernand Léger, later experimenting with abstract photography before joining Vogue in 1954. His groundbreaking debut book Life Is Good & Good for You in New York (1956), awarded the Prix Nadar, defied conventions with its use of grain, blur, and wide-angle distortion, and was followed by portraits of Rome, Moscow, and Tokyo. Leaving fashion photography in the mid-1960s, Klein turned to filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries and satirical features. Returning to still photography in the late 1970s, he remained a relentless innovator whose unconventional vision influenced generations of street and fashion photographers.
William Klein: HOMAGE
Gallery FIFTY ONE – Antwerp, Belgium
William Klein: Unseen photographs
FIFTY ONE TOO – Antwerp, Belgium
September 6th – October 31st 2025
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