The city is preparing to host a new season dedicated to fine art photography, with a schedule of exhibitions that will bring some of the most prominent names in the international photography scene to Pordenone.
Following the success of “Sul Guardare”—which opened in late 2024 with solo exhibitions dedicated to the masters Italo Zannier and Bruno Barbey and to the contemporary artists Rommel, Pasquaretta, and Tajariol—“Sul Leggere” is now underway, marking the second chapter of the cultural project promoted by the City of Pordenone. The initiative, organized by Suazes—the Pordenone-based creative cultural enterprise directed by Marco Minuz—is one of the main projects included in the “Pordenone 2027. A City That Surprises” dossier.
Alberto Parigi, Councilor for Culture: “This exhibition represents a fundamental step in Pordenone’s journey toward becoming the 2027 Italian Capital of Culture and is, in fact, part of the multi-year program ‘Toward Pordenone 2027,’ which features a comprehensive and ongoing program spanning a broader timeframe, with initiatives taking place both in the years leading up to and following 2027. As a testament to this commitment, banners will be displayed outside the exhibition highlighting the direct connection to the Italian Capital of Culture initiative. At the same time, the project to revitalize the Bertoia Gallery continues steadily; the gallery is establishing itself as a leading venue for fine art photography through a targeted program and an increasingly well-defined exhibition identity.”
The timing of the opening—which will take place on Friday, September 12, at 6:00 p.m.—is no coincidence, as Councilor Alberto Parigi confirms: “We wanted to create a direct synergy with Pordenonelegge, both because the event coincides with the festival and because of the thematic affinity between the exhibition’s content and the literary event. Furthermore, to maximize the visitor experience during the festival, we have organized a city-wide exhibition circuit featuring various displays, ranging from mosaics to photography, to cater to every interest. On this special occasion, all exhibition venues will have extended hours, and the civic museums will offer free admission, making culture even more accessible to residents and tourists alike.”
From September 13 to November 16 (opening to the public on Friday, September 12, at 6:00 p.m.), the Harry Bertoia Gallery is hosting “Inge Morath. My Stories,” an exhibition dedicated to the first woman to join the prestigious Magnum Photos agency and a leading figure in 20th-century photojournalism. The exhibition reveals a previously unseen aspect of her artistic output: her portraits of the literary world, a lesser-known yet fundamental dimension of her work.
“We hereby declare open this new photography season titled ‘Del Leggere,’ which focuses on the theme of reading in all its forms. We’re kicking it off with this preview on the eve of Pordenonelegge, creating an ideal bridge between photography and literature,” says Marco Minuz, one of the exhibition’s curators. “The exhibition features a section dedicated to portraiture that engages directly with this year’s book festival, offering a rich selection of portraits connected to the world of literature. Visitors will be able to discover the artist’s special relationships with authors of the caliber of Pablo Neruda, Philip Roth, Salman Rushdie, Edward Albee, Harold Pinter, Heiner Müller, Heinrich Böll, Jean Cocteau, Doris Lessing, Erika Jong, and, of course, Arthur Miller.”
Inge Morath. My Stories
Visitors will discover an original and little-explored aspect of the Austrian photographer’s (Graz 1923 – New York 2002) body of work, focusing primarily on the second half of her life, marked by her meeting on the set of John Houston’s film *The Misfits* and her subsequent marriage to playwright Arthur Miller. It is a narrative that delves beyond the artist’s surface to paint a portrait of a woman who, at the height of her creative and professional maturity, decided to set aside the photography career she had built with great dedication to devote herself entirely to her family. This decision led her to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Magnum Photos, direct contact with colleagues, and travel for photojournalism assignments—a choice that also triggered a profound inner transformation.
After a few years, thanks to her immersion in the rich cultural environment surrounding the couple, Inge Morath resumed photography with renewed intensity. This period gave rise to some of her most personal and profound works, particularly her series of portraits of the greatest intellectuals of the second half of the 20th century. Her ability to capture the essence of her subjects extended to the leading literary figures of the time who were part of the couple’s social circle.
Through her portraits, Inge Morath sought to capture not only the outward appearance of her subjects, but also their inner selves, their tensions, and their passions. This relationship developed in an atmosphere of respect and mutual interest, where the photographer interpreted the nuances of their personalities, revealing aspects that were less visible but equally significant. The portrait sessions were often accompanied by deep conversations that enriched the work. As she herself wrote: “I asked to photograph these people because, for me, there was meaning in each of them—a feeling of closeness or admiration, a curiosity about them and their work, about how they carried their beauty or their fame, their isolation, their aging, their wisdom—in short, about how they faced the world.”
The exhibition is sponsored by the City of Pordenone and organized by Suazes in collaboration with Fotohof; curated by Brigitte Blüml Kaindl, Kurt Kaindl, and Marco Minuz, the exhibition project is supported by the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
The Exhibition Itinerary
The exhibition features approximately 110 photographs: a selection of her major photo essays that trace Inge Morath’s personal and professional journey, from her early days as a journalist to her apprenticeship with Ernst Haas and Henri Cartier-Bresson, and on to her work with prestigious magazines such as *Picture Post*, *LIFE*, *Paris Match*, *Saturday Evening Post*, and *Vogue*.
The exhibition will feature selections from her major travel photoessays: from Venice to England, from Spain to Russia, from Iran to China, from France to Austria, followed by a section dedicated to portraiture which, in collaboration with Pordenonelegge, brings together a rich selection of portraits from the literary world. An extraordinary opportunity to discover this photographer’s most intimate work. As she herself writes: “Photography is a strange phenomenon. You trust your eye, but you can’t help but lay your soul bare.”
The exhibition is enriched by a photographic series—on display for the first time in Italy—created by Kurt Kaindl, which documents the daily life of the Morath-Miller couple on their farm in Roxbury, Connecticut: a delicate visual exploration that reveals the domestic atmosphere and the deep bond between the photographer and her family environment.
The exhibition is rounded out by the screening of a documentary on the photographer’s life, which paints a comprehensive portrait of her as a woman, an artist, and an intellectual through archival footage, testimonials, and interviews.
Hours and Tickets
The exhibition is open from September 13 to November 16, 2025. Hours: Fridays 3:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Tickets: 7 euros (full price), 4 euros (reduced price).
Special opening hours and reduced admission during Pordenonelegge
During Pordenonelegge (September 17–21), the exhibition will have extended hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (open all day), and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. In addition, during the Festival (September 17–20), tickets will be available at a promotional price: 5 euros for general admission, 4 euros for reduced-price tickets.
Upcoming Exhibitions on “Reading”
The full schedule for the season will be announced in the second half of September.