If you love contemporary photography, the Stockholm Museum of Photography or ”Fotografiska,” as it’s known in Swedish, is the place to be. And not only are the contents artistic, the museum is housed in a former industrial Art Nouveau style building from 1906, designed by architect Ferdinand Boberg.
Fotografiska is one of the world’s largest meeting places for modern photography with four major exhibitions and about 15 to 20 smaller exhibitions being presented annually here. The museum strives to display world-renowned photographers; Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe and David LaChapelle are among a few of the popular names that have been showcased.
And at the end of May, Fotografiska’s summer exhibition, a retrospective of the great fashion and portrait photographer Helmut Newton, premiered. Newton was a pioneer and famous for his proactive fashion photography. His black-and-white work included categories of fashion, portraiture and erotica. And he was one of the first that collaborated with designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, and his photos have been published several times in major fashion magazines such as ELLE and Vogue to name a few. The exhibition, which came from the Grand Palais in Paris, includes 200 original and vintage prints and was produced by Fotografiska and Newton’s widow, June Newton.
After you’ve experienced the exhibit, head upstairs to the restaurant that not only offers great food and snacks — think vegetable dishes, sandwiches, housemade pastries and salads — but also one of the best ocean views of Stockholm. Although Newton’s work will be displayed through September 29, the city’s scapes from the eatery can be enjoyed year-round.
Photos Courtesy of Helmut Newton Estate
