Following his 70th birthday last year, Anton Corbijn looks back on a body of work spanning more than five decades – from photography to music videos and feature films. The exhibition “Corbijn, Anton” celebrates 50 years of his practice and presents around 150 photographs, including iconic portraits of Depeche Mode, Tom Waits, U2, the Rolling Stones, Martin Scorsese and Marlene Dumas, as well as German figures such as Nina Hagen, Herbert Grönemeyer and Wim Wenders. His signature remains a grainy black-and-white aesthetic that continues to define his visual language.
Alongside the retrospective, the book “Corbijn, Anton” has been published by Hannibal Books. The Paris-based studio M/M designed both the publication and the exhibition.
Anton Corbijn’s story begins on a quiet Dutch island, where he grew up as the son of a pastor. Music became his early refuge. With the camera, he found a tool that has stayed with him ever since – one that allowed him to express his fascination with music while overcoming his own shyness.
When Corbijn moved to London in 1979, the music scene was in full motion – with bands like The Clash, The Jam and Joy Division. Just ten days after arriving, he photographed Joy Division – claiming to be on assignment for a Dutch magazine, even though no such commission existed.
“The camera is a wonderful tool to connect with people. It gives you a role that allows you to approach others. The desire to photograph was stronger than my shyness.” – Anton Corbijn
For Corbijn, the camera is more than a tool – it is a connection to the people in front of it. This has led to long-term creative collaborations, including shaping the visual identity of Depeche Mode over decades and defining the imagery of U2.
“Style is really the inability to do it differently. I never set out to develop a specific style – I simply couldn’t do it any other way.” – Anton Corbijn
“The exhibition was curated in close collaboration with the artist and presents not only his most well-known works, but also a personal selection of his favorite images,” says Johan Vikner, Global Director of Exhibitions at Fotografiska.
About the artist: Dutch artist Anton Corbijn is known for his work across photography, music video, film and graphic design. In front of his camera have been Joy Division, Depeche Mode, U2, the Rolling Stones, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Gerhard Richter, Ai Weiwei and Marlene Dumas. In addition to his photographic work, Corbijn has directed more than 80 music videos for artists such as U2, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, Metallica and Coldplay. As art director, he has shaped the visual identity of Depeche Mode.
In 2006, Corbijn directed his first feature film Control, about Ian Curtis, which received international acclaim. It was followed by The American (2010), A Most Wanted Man (2014) and Life (2015). His documentary Squaring The Circle was released in 2023, followed by the feature film Switzerland starring Helen Mirren in 2025.
Opening party : The exhibition opens on May 8 (7 pm – 2 am) with a special event. The evening begins with a conversation between Anton Corbijn and Herbert Grönemeyer, moderated by Hadnet Tesfai, followed by a live line-up including Anika, DJ Hell, Drangsal, Isolation Berlin and others, reflecting Corbijn’s aesthetic through music.
Fotografiska is an international destination for photography, visual art and culture, with locations in Stockholm, Berlin, Shanghai and Tallinn. Founded in 2010, it aims to present contemporary visual culture from new perspectives.
May 9 – September 20, 2026
Fotografiska Berlin