Le Stanze della Fotografia Foundation

Participation in the open call is completely free and open to everyone, whether professionals or photography enthusiasts.
Participants are required to produce three photographs that tell a story inspired by the figure of Horst P. Horst and the themes of the exhibition project.
The works should create a narrative starting from the following quote by Horst P. Horst:

“Fashion is an expression of the times. Elegance is something else.”

To participate, it is necessary to publish the three required photographs on one’s personal social media channels (Facebook or Instagram), tagging the official account @lestanzedellafotografia and using the reference hashtag #opencallstanze26.

The same photographs must then be sent by email to opencallstanze@gmail.com in high resolution and JPEG format, together with a project synopsis, a short biography of the author, and the signed release form attached to these regulations.
The subject line of the email must include the participant’s first and last name followed by “open call giovani fotografi”.

From the selection of works, the jury will identify between 4 and 6 finalists, whose names will be announced during the press conference for the presentation of the exhibition Horst P. Horst. The Geometry of Grace at Le Stanze della Fotografia, scheduled for February 20, 2026.
The finalist works will remain on display until the close of the exhibition, scheduled for July 5, 2026.

Subsequently, the works will also be presented at the Le Stanze della Fotografia booth at MIA Photo Fair in Milan, taking place from March 19 to 22, 2026.
On this occasion, fair visitors will be able to cast their vote.
At the conclusion of the fair, the three winners will be announced, and their works will be marked with a label inside Le Stanze della Fotografia.

The jury reserves the right not to award all the prizes, should the submitted works not be deemed worthy.
The jury’s decision is discretionary and final.

Jury

The works presented will be evaluated by a jury of excellence, composed of: Denis Curti, co-curator of the exhibition; Gert Elfering, owner of the Estate Horst P. Horst; Francesca Malgara, artistic director of MIA Photo Fair; Francesca Marani, Senior Photo Editor of Vogue Italia; and Anne Morin, exhibition curator and director of diChroma Photography.

The jury will assess the works based on the following criteria: creativity, originality, photographic quality, and adherence to the theme.

The exhibition

Curated by Anne Morin in collaboration with Denis Curti, Horst P. Horst. The Geometry of Grace offers an original and transversal reading of the work of the German-born American photographer, restoring its complexity beyond the fashion photography that made him famous in the pages of Vogue.

The exhibition brings together over 300 works, many of which are presented for the first time, including color photographs shown in Italy on this occasion, alongside vintage prints, drawings, documents, and previously unpublished materials.
Together, they invite viewers to discover an artist who transformed photography into a reflection on harmony, proportion, and beauty as a balance between parts and the whole.

Far from being a mere aesthetic exercise, Horst conceived the image as an architecture of forms and light—a language that is both rigorous and sensual.
His photographs, constructed according to precise proportional relationships, refer to the pursuit of perfection that runs through the history of art, from Phidias to Le Corbusier, his teacher during his Parisian years.

Submission via email and publication of the photographs on social media profiles will be accepted until 11:59:59 p.m. on February 1, 2026.

Each participant may enter the contest multiple times (with three photographs per entry), but may only be awarded one of the available prizes.