The opening of the exhibition “Inge Morath. My Stories’, which was attended by Councillor Alberto Parigi and the curators Marco Minuz and Kurt Kaindl. The solo exhibition, dedicated to the first woman photographer to join the prestigious Magnum Photos agency and a leading figure in 20th-century photojournalism, reveals a previously unseen aspect of her artistic output: her portraits of the literary world, a lesser-known yet fundamental dimension of her work.
This exhibition marks the launch of “Sul Leggere”, the second chapter of the cultural project promoted by Pordenone City Council. The initiative, organised by Suazes – the Pordenone-based creative cultural enterprise directed by Marco Minuz – is one of the key projects featured in the “Pordenone 2027. A City that Surprises” dossier.
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.