For the first time, Márton Szipál’s previously unseen fashion photos will be presented to the Hungarian public at the m21 Gallery. A large-scale exhibition of the fashion photographs of the legendary photographer, Márton Szipál, entitled Fashion Geometry, will open on March, 19., at the m21 Gallery of the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter in Pécs. The special feature of the exhibition is that several fashion shots can be viewed that are now being presented to the public for the first time. Exhibition Curator: Virág Lajti, Gabriella Csizek … Exhibition opened by: Iván András Bojár.
The exhibition is part of the Szipál Archive’s “Szipál 101: Light–Life–Heritage” program series, and is also the opening event of this year’s Pécs Photo Spring.
The journey of Márton Szipál led from Debrecen to Hollywood. He photographed a series of world stars in his studio on Sunset Boulevard, while developing a unique photographic style based on geometric compositions. “Beauty lies in strict composition, and that lies in the geometric shapes hidden behind the forms,” said Márton Szipál. The exhibition makes this idea visible: the photos presented reveal how he constructed his images, how he created harmony between forms, lights and human presence.
The exhibition not only presents fashion photos, but also provides an insight into Márton Szipál’s oeuvre. Visitors can learn about the compositional principles that defined both his portraits and fashion shots: geometric order, a world of forms arranged according to the rules of the golden ratio, the conscious use of light and shadow, and carefully composed postures and viewpoints.
A unique voice in fashion photography Márton Szipál was born into a photography dynasty in Debrecen. He began his career in Hungary, then emigrated to the United States after the 1956 revolution, where he opened a studio on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles called Martin Studio.
Nicknamed “Martin, the King,” the photographer quickly became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after portrait photographers.
Many world stars have appeared in front of his camera, including John Wayne (actor), Tommy Lee Jones (actor), Leslie Nielsen (actor, comedian), Tracy Nelson (actor), Charlene Tilton (actress, singer), Olivia Hussey (actress, Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film Romeo and Juliet), Margaux Hemingway (model, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway), Timothy Hutton (American actor, film director), Priscilla Presley (actress) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (world-class basketball player).
From the 1960s, he worked for the fashion magazine Californian Girls for over a decade, taking fashion photographs in various parts of the world – from Greece to Egypt, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
In his photographs, the personality of the model, the shape of the dress, the texture of the material and the precise use of light all come together to create the harmony that appears in the images. Szípál – who often called himself a “director” – consciously orchestrated every detail of the work.
The exhibition focuses on his fundamental belief that beauty is not a mere aesthetic experience, but order and harmony, which becomes visible in the harmony of forms, light and human presence.
Why would anyone want to miss this grand exhibition !,! Also worthwhile before and after visit Pécs … spend a jolly good time.
The exhibition can visited until the 31st of May, 2026.
Highly recommended by Aggie Reiter







