The celebrated Brazilian fashion photographer Rafael Pavarotti was born in 1993 in Icoaraci, Pará, in the Amazon region. Today, he is internationally renowned for his mastery of hyper-saturated colors and his theatrical staging.
From October 2, 2026, to May 2, 2027, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs will present the work of 33 years old Brazilian photographer Rafael Pavarotti—his first solo exhibition and retrospective in France.
Rafael Pavarotti takes pride in his Afro-Indigenous roots. At the age of 12, he taught himself photography by secretly using his father’s camera. By 16, he had left his hometown to work in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, before his rapidly ascending career propelled him to London and Paris.
In February 2022, Rafael made fashion history: his cover for *British Vogue*, titled "As the World Turns," featured nine Black top models—a powerful statement in favor of diversity and inclusion.
Today, he shoots global campaigns for luxury brands such as Dior, Balmain, Maison Margiela, Ferragamo, and Off-White. His subjects have included megastars like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and—notably—the very, very white British artist Harry Styles.
Rafael Pavarotti uses fashion to challenge traditional beauty standards and create a powerful visual world in which marginalized individuals are represented with pride and dignity.
"Much of what I do today is for the next generations to come, and those who are not yet born."
Rafael Pavarotti, artist.
His artistic significance is further underscored by this major retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. From October 2, 2026, to May 2, 2027, the museum will exhibit over 200 of his works. The exhibition documents his journey from his beginnings in the Amazon to the pinnacle of contemporary fashion photography.
The exhibition presents more than 200 prints—shown alongside photographs from the museum’s own collection—that reveal his broad range: from iconic fashion magazine covers and portraits of international pop culture stars such as Rihanna, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé, to campaigns for major fashion houses.
Rafael Pavarotti. Photographer . open til 2. Mai 2027 . Musée des Arts Décoratifs .
GoSee : madparis.fr
