Vivian Maier, Exhibition, Palazzo Pallavicini, Bolonia: 3 March - 27 May 2018

Vivian Maier (1926-2009) practically lived a double life, fulfilling the role of a nanny in suburban Chicago while also being a closet photographer. She would take her charges on day trips to the seedier parts of cities and photograph people going about their daily lives. As it turns out, it was not only urban America that she captured, but also France and parts of Asia. This exhibition covers themes that seemed most important to her: childhood, self-portraits, portraits, street life, forms and color.  

Almost as interesting as her photographs was the enigma of the woman herself, completely unknown in her time. Her work was only shown to the world when John Maloof, a real estate agent, bought a box of her possessions at an auction in 2007 and realised the artistic value of what he had. Many people ask the questions “Why would a nanny take so many pictures? If she loved photography, then why not show her pictures to the world?”, and sadly we can’t ask the woman herself. But Maloof tracked down thousands of her rolls of film-all undeveloped, so perhaps she just had no desire for the world to see her photos. From this vast collection, 120 carefully selected photographs will be on display, so you can finally see what she clicked through her lens.

Palazzo Pallavicini

24 Via S. Felice, 40122 Bologna

Opening times

Thursday to Sunday,11.00-20.00

Ticket office closes 1hr before close

Last entry 1hr before close