JUERGEN TELLER: 7 ½
Galleria degli Antichi and Sala degli Specchi at Palazzo Giardino, Sabbioneta
From April 13th until November 23rd, 2025
Opening this spring, the historic town of Sabbioneta in the province of Mantua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes the return of major contemporary art to one of its most iconic architectural landmarks, as Palazzo Giardino will host 7 ½, a solo exhibition by one of the most influential and provocative photographers on the contemporary scene, Juergen Teller, presented by the Sabbioneta Heritage Foundation.
Following acclaimed retrospectives at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris (2023) and the Triennale Milano (2024), Teller brings a new and deeply personal body of work to the Galleria degli Antichi and the Sala degli Specchi. Curated by Mario Codognato, 7 ½ offers an intimate exploration of the last several years of Teller’s creative evolution, and at the heart of this period lies his artistic and life partnership with his wife, Dovile Drizyte, whose presence informs both the title and the emotional texture of the exhibition. Curator Codognato says of the artist, “Juergen Teller is undoubtedly one of the most important artists of his generation and one of the greatest innovators of photographic language, not only in the field of fashion, but of the entire creative application of this medium. The inclusion of the commonplace, the instantaneous freezing of every imaginable situation, have pre-empted the aesthetics of social media and clearly and inexorably influenced recent generations in the field of photography”.
opening image: Dulia No.12, 2024.
The number 7 ½ refers not only to the years Teller and Drizyte have collaborated artistically but also to the time spent together each day, symbolising a quiet, almost spiritual intimacy that becomes public through the photographs on display. Expect a visual diary of sorts, where spontaneity, emotion and imperfection are celebrated rather than concealed.
Teller’s signature aesthetic remains unmistakable throughout; cue the unfiltered gaze and raw portrayal of his subjects for maximum authenticity, and this unique perspective plays to the site-specific nature of the exhibition. Teller and Codognato, alongside exhibition designer Federico Fedel, offer a layout that embraces the architectural majesty of the venue, with the 97m long Galleria degli Antichi, one of Europe’s most remarkable Renaissance spaces, and the ornate ceilings of the Sala degli Specchi coming together to provide a dramatic counterpoint to Teller’s contemporary visuals. The result? A compelling dialogue between past and present.
“Palazzo Giardino, with the majesty of the Galleria degli Antichi and the elegance of the Sala degli Specchi, becomes the ideal stage for interaction between past and present.”
With 7 ½, Juergen Teller continues to push the boundaries of photography as art, bringing deeply personal stories into public view, all within the walls of a town built to embody the ideals of the Renaissance. Ezio Zani, Head of the Sabbioneta Heritage Foundation, says on the build-up to the exhibition, “the journey embarked upon by Sabbioneta last year is now enriched by the opportunity to host the work of another outstanding artist, free and visionary, who places man, shown in the multitude of his expressions, at the centre of his investigation and vision.” He continues, “By hosting Juergen Teller, with this very personal project, which features a layout that is sure to astound visitors, Sabbioneta confirms its vocation as a great and exclusive container and stage for the most accredited international art.”
For further information visitsabbioneta.it.
