From 24 October 2026 to 4 April 2027, the Museo Civico of Bassano del Grappa pays tribute to an artist whose vision has shaped the history of photography, changing the way we see the world: Sebastião Salgado (1944–2025).

For the first time in Italy, a selection of over 160 photographs from the prestigious collection of the MEP – Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris – traces the work of this great artist: fifty years of life and career during which Salgado travelled across continents, documenting labour and migration, wars and climate change, fears and hopes.

A narrative about humanity and the great challenges of our time, which also marks the beginning of a new chapter for the city: the exhibition is, in fact, the first official event in Bassano del Grappa’s bid to become the Italian Capital of Culture 2029, signalling the concrete launch of a project that places culture at the heart of the city’s vision for the future.

The exhibition is curated by Pascal Hoël, Head of Collections at the MEP, France’s leading institution dedicated to photography, which houses a unique collection of the great photographer’s works – the result of a long-standing relationship and deep mutual respect. The MEP has supported the photographer’s work since the 1980s, backing some of his major projects, key acquisitions and significant exhibitions. This bond was further strengthened in 2018, when Salgado and his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, donated an exceptional collection of 105 original prints to the institution. A substantial selection of these works is on display, alongside further prints that have been added to the MEP’s collections over the years.

The exhibition is divided into two main sections which trace, in chronological order, the key series from Salgado’s extensive body of work. The first presents an overview of the famous series Other Americas, Sahel, Serra Pelada Gold Mine – Brazil, Workers, Kuwait, Exodus and Children of the Exodus, documenting the first 25 years of the photographer’s career, during which Salgado chronicled the fury and torments of humanity. The second section, by contrast, is dedicated to the major Genesis project, developed over a period of more than seven years: a tribute to the beauty and fragility of that part of the planet which has remained untouched by human intervention and whose preservation is now more vital than ever.

Through a journey of great intensity and emotion, the exhibition offers a synthesis of Salgado’s life and work: an extraordinary narrative by images in which environmental and social challenges are accompanied by a profound message of hope and rebirth. Through his lens, Salgado invites us to rediscover the deep bond between humankind and nature and, through his images, to view the world with empathy, rigour and social awareness.

The exhibition is accompanied by the catalogue Sebastião Salgado, published in Italian and English by Silvana Editoriale.

The exhibition is promoted and organized by: Municipality and Musei Civici of Bassano del Grappa, MEP – Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris and Silvana Editoriale, as part of the nomination of Bassano del Grappa as Italian Capital of Culture 2029
Under the high Patronage of: European Parliament
Under the Patronage of: Regione del Veneto
Main Sponsor: Chrysos S.p.A. and Mevis S.p.A. 
Media Partner: Il Giornale di Vicenza and Rete Veneta
For  information and bookings:
→ T +39 0424 519899 
→ salgado@comune.bassano.vi.it
Cover image: Sebastião Salgado, Brooks Mountains, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States, 2009. MEP Collection, Paris. Donated by Sebastião Salgado and Lélia Wanick Salgado, 2018. © Sebastião Salgado