From March 27 to Aug. 23, Brescia becomes the first Italian city to host an exhibition project dedicated to Bruce Gilden (New York, 1946), a full member of the Magnum Photos agency and known as one of the pioneers of Street Photography, with a single project consisting of an exhibition and a site-specific installation, set up at the Museo di Santa Giulia and Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo, for the first time in Italy.
The initiative, curated by Denis Curti developed in direct collaboration with the artist, organized by the Brescia Musei Foundation in collaboration with Magnum Photos, is an international project and one of the most significant events of the 9th edition of the Brescia Photo Festival (March 26-29, 2026) promoted by the Municipality of Brescia and the Brescia Musei Foundation, in collaboration with the Cavallerizza-center of Italian photography, and continues the line of investigation into contemporary U.S. photographers, which the Brescia institution began in 2023 with David La Chapelle and continued last year with Joel Meyerowitz.
The exhibition, titled “A Closer Look,” the first major monograph dedicated to Bruce Gilden and never presented in Italy, hosted by the Museo di Santa Giulia, presents a body of 80 photographs; the itinerary revolves around Faces (2013-2024), portraits of people characterized by the dynamic accent, the particular graphic qualities and the original and direct way in which Gilden photographs faces with the aid of flash; they are shots taken as a figurative chronicle of cities around the world: from the United States to England, passing through Mexico, Greece and Colombia; they are works that arise from a strongly sought relationship and dialogue with the subjects, but that do not renounce a direct and uncompromising approach, typical of his expressive style.
Alongside them, a series of black-and-white photographs from his early days (1968), taken in Japan with some Yakuza representatives (1996-1999), in Haiti (1985-1995), in Europe, including France (1994-2015), Ireland (1996-1997) and England (2000-2012), but especially in his hometown: New York (1969-1995), will be presented.
Completing the review are two audiovisual contributions: the first is an interview by British photographer and reporter Martin Parr, in which Bruce Gilden will recount his biographical events and professional career; the second will be a video made by the Magnum Photos Agency.
