If you find yourself in Europe this autumn, here are three exhibitions celebrating the artistry of fashion and photography to fit into your schedule.
London’s National Portrait Gallery offers a look at photographer Cecil Beaton’s world through his photos, sketches and costumes. Over in Amsterdam, the Stedelijk Museum reflects on Erwin Olaf’s bold and often controversial photography, while Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs celebrates a century of art deco through the world’s largest collection of exhibits illustrating the influential design movement.
Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, London
Actress Elizabeth Taylor, photographed by Cecil Beaton, at the Dorchester Hotel in London, in 1955. Photo: The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive
Mainly known as a photographer, Cecil Beaton – also a fashion illustrator, costume designer, caricature artist and writer – is the subject of an exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery. “Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World” celebrates his work in fashion with sketches, letters and costumes, as well as photographs of icons such as Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Until January 11, 2026.
Erwin Olaf – Freedom, Amsterdam
A work by Erwin Olaf entitled Nederlands Dans Theater, 01, taken in 2009. Photo: Handout
The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is holding a retrospective dedicated to the work of Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf, who died two years ago. A free spirit and a rebellious soul, Olaf often chose to depict controversial subjects in his artfully staged photos. In addition to his most famous works, the show, “Erwin Olaf – Freedom”, also features lesser-known creations, personal material and his last piece, a video. From October 11, 2025 to March 1, 2026.
1925-2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco, Paris
A silk crepe dress from a winter 1921 collection by fashion house Madeleine Vionnet. Photo: Handout
Art deco, short for arts décoratifs, began in France in the 1910s and reached its peak with the “International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts” in Paris, which took place in 1925. To celebrate the centenary, the city’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs is holding “1925-2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco”, an exhibition focusing on its art deco collection, the largest in the world. From October 22, 2025 to April 26, 2026.