Marking the opening of EMOP Berlin 2025, the Helmut Newton Foundation unveils Polaroids, a striking new group exhibition celebrating the art of instant photography. A defining medium of the 1960s, Polaroid photography was revolutionary, offering immediate gratification long before digital took over. The exhibition, running at the foundation in Berlin until 25 July, brings together works by the late German-Australian photographer, alongside 60 international lensmen, delivering one of the most extensive showcases of Polaroid art in the city’s recent history.
Helmut Newton, always a master of composition, was drawn to Polaroids as a way to finesse lighting and framing before capturing his final shots on film. What started as a preparatory tool evolved into an art form in itself, with Newton publishing two books of his Polaroids and signing select prints as standalone works. The exhibition pulls from the foundation’s extensive archive, presenting original Newton Polaroids alongside large-scale prints that magnify the beauty of these once-disposable images.
Judith Eglington, Masked woman, 1973,
© Judith Eglington.
Sheila Metzner, Michal, Mermaid, 1980,
© Sheila Metzner.
Curated by Matthias Harder, the show also taps into the legendary Polaroid collection of OstLicht in Vienna, which houses a staggering 4,400 works by 800 photographers. This treasure trove, rescued from auction in 2010, ensures that the legacy of Polaroid remains intact.
Expect a full spectrum of instant photography techniques, from classic SX-70s to rare Polacolor 20 x 24 prints; showcasing everything from experimental distortions to grand mosaic compositions. Italian artist Maurizio Galimberti deconstructs and reconstructs his subjects into hypnotic grids, while German photographer Pola Sieverding’s SX-70 series zeroes in on the muscular intensity of male wrestlers. Meanwhile, Marike Schuurman pushes the medium further, using acidic waters of former coal mines to warp Polaroid chemistry, creating eerie, otherworldly hues.
The show also pays tribute to American photographer Sheila Metzner, whose Polaroids, drawn from the Newtons’ personal collection, are being exhibited for the first time. Known for her delicate and evocative portraiture, Metzner used Polaroids much like Newton, as a space for experimentation and refinement.
From single-frame snapshots to elaborate, sculptural mosaics, Polaroids highlights the enduring magic of instant photography. Whether serving as an artist’s sketchbook, a raw unfiltered glimpse into a creative process, or a work of art in its own right, these images remain as captivating as ever. A must-see for photography lovers and nostalgists alike, this exhibition is a love letter to a medium that forever changed the way we capture the world.
Polaroids, will remain on show at the Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin, until 25 July.
Helmut Newton, Italian Vogue, Monte Carlo 2003,
© Helmut Newton Foundation.
Helmut Newton, Cindy Crawford, American Vogue, Monte Carlo 1991,
© Helmut Newton Foundation.
Stephen Shore, Ohne Titel, 1980,
© Stephen Shore.
Alma Davenport, Warwick, Rhode Island, 1978,
© Alma Davenport.
William Wegman, Ohne Titel, 1988,
Polacolor, © William Wegman.
