Conversation – Irving Penn: Behind the Scenes of His Fashion Photography
Thu 12 November 2026 19-20h - Book!

On the occasion of Paris Photo and the exhibition PENN & FASHION, the MEP invites you to a conversation with Vasilios Zatse, Deputy Director of The Irving Penn Foundation and a close collaborator of the photographer for 13 years, and Julien d’Ys, hair artist and stylist who worked alongside him.

How did Irving Penn create his photographs? Beyond the technical mastery and precision that define his work, his photographs were shaped by an ongoing dialogue with his collaborators. This conversation offers a closer look at his creative process through the experiences of two people who worked alongside him and helped bring his images to life.

During his 13 years alongside Penn, Vasilios Zatse was involved in all aspects of the photographer’s creative work, from editorial assignments to advertising campaigns. Under Penn’s direct supervision, he also made gelatin silver and platinum-palladium prints in the photographer’s private darkroom.


Conversation & Book Signing with Steve McCurry, photographer
Fri 13 November 2026 19-20h - Book!

On the occasion of Paris Photo, the MEP is pleased to welcome photographer Steve McCurry for a conversation with Anne Morin, art historian and curator, about his book The Haunted Eye, published by Atelier EXB.

A member of Magnum Photos since 1986, Steve McCurry is one of the most influential figures in contemporary photography. Born in Philadelphia in 1950, he became widely known for his photographs of Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. His work has taken him around the world, from conflict zones to the most remote places, where he has encountered diverse populations, cultures and ways of life. Recognisable for the striking power of his portraits and his deeply humanistic perspective, his work bears witness both to the upheavals of history and to the beauty and fragility of the human condition.

The discussion will be followed by a book signing with Steve McCurry at the MEP bookshop, starting at 8 pm. You can purchase your copy through our online bookshop.


Panel discussion — Fashion Photography and the Archive: The Afterlife of Images and the Making of Female Identities
Sat 14 November 2026 15-16h - Book!

On the occasion of Paris Photo and the exhibition PENN & FASHION, the MEP invites you to a panel discussion exploring the relationship between fashion photography, archives and the construction of female identities. Proposed and moderated by Giorgia Basch, curator, publisher and founder of BilderAtlas, the discussion brings together Nathalie Herschdorfer, Director of Photo Elysée and a specialist in the history of fashion photography, and Rita Lino, a visual artist whose work explores identity and self-representation through photography and performance.