Art Madrid'26 – PHILIPPE HALSMAN THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE STARS

Marilyn Monroe with Philippe Halsman

 

 

Philippe Halsman (1906-1979) Born in Latvia, he had a very tragic life. He was accused of Parricide and later imprisoned for his Jewish religion. They were difficult times for the creative ones, and Halsman managed to emigrate to Paris. With the help of Albert Einstein he got a ticket to move to the United States, the land of opportunity. The photographer managed to make room in the American art scene and consolidated as "photographer of the stars" for portraying Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock or Audrey Hepburn.

 

 

Dalí atomicus, 1948. By Philippe Halsman

 

 

This electrical engineer turned to photography, was a great defender of this artistic technique. It suffered the arrival of the mass media, but it knew to maintain and to continue climbing in its race. Thanks to his imagination and his ability to speak in public he opened an unexplored path in the field of photography. Philippe Halsman was a landmark in postwar photography. Thanks to his family, the Caixaforum Madrid presents an exhibition full of historical sights.

 

 

Alfred Hitchcock. By Philippe Halsman

 

 

For the first time it has been accessed its private archives and it has been possible to pose this wonderful presentation divided into four sections. The first, an introduction dedicated to your stay in Paris. A compilation of his early work that shows how the photographer already pointed ways. The other three parts, reflect the period in which he lived in the United States. Each one of them, are a mirror of all the restlessness of the artist. The protagonists are his portraits of well-known personalities. Finally, the impressive repertoire that made with the eccentric artist Salvador Dalí.

 

 

Covers of Life magazine. By Philippe Halsman

 

 

An exhibition for lovers of photography, portrait, myths and pop culture. His photographs like him, awaken in the curious observer the taste for detail and naturalness. Thanks to Halsman, photography gave a twist to the way we look and interpret. The exhibition, surprise me! Will be active until March 26. An opportunity to see more than 300 reproductions of one of the most important photographers of S.XX.

 

 


ART MADRID’ 26: 21 YEARS OF CONTEMPORARY ART


Discover all the information about the artists and galleries participating in the 21st edition of Art Madrid. The catalog features a curated selection of the works presented in this edition, along with the most relevant details of the event, making it an essential tool for engaging with the fair’s key figures and exploring the defining elements of today’s art scene.


In 2026, Art Madrid celebrates its 21st edition, further establishing itself as a leading event within Spain’s cultural sector. From March 4 to 8, the Galería de Cristal of the Palacio de Cibeles will once again become a meeting point for galleries, collectors, artists, and contemporary art enthusiasts.


Over the past twenty-one years, the fair has evolved into a dynamic and ever-expanding platform, fostering diversity in artistic languages, techniques, and discourses. In this edition, the Galleries Program brings together around 35 exhibitors from more than seven countries, offering a representative overview of the most recent developments in contemporary creation.


The Art Madrid ’26 catalog serves as a key publication for discovering the work of this edition’s galleries and artists —marked by experimentation and a plurality of perspectives— while also documenting the conceptual axes that shape the fair. As part of the Parallel Program, INHABITING THE EPHEMERAL: A Reflection on the “Species” of Spaces proposes a reflection on space, relationships, and shared experience, expanding the understanding of the fair beyond its commercial dimension and highlighting its cultural and experiential significance.


In addition, the catalog presents the initiatives that complete the program, such as the Open Booth dedicated to emerging creation, the Nebrija Space in collaboration with Nebrija University, the Performance Series “Open Infinite. What the Body Remembers,” the One Shot Collectors Program, and the Patronage Program, reaffirming the fair’s commitment to supporting, mediating, and accompanying contemporary art at every stage.

We invite you to discover more about Art Madrid ’26 through the catalog of its 21st edition — a publication that, beyond serving as documentary memory, becomes a cartography of the present artistic moment and an open door to new ways of inhabiting contemporary art.