MILAN — A book and a twofold exhibition in Milan aim to spotlight the work of French-Algerian photographer Michel Haddi.

Dubbed “Tupac — The Legend,” the 40-page glossy tome is dedicated to the late rapper Tupac Shakur, widely considered to be one of the most influential artists of all time. To be released on Wednesday to coincide with the anniversary of his death, the book centers on an unseen collection of images of Shakur that Haddi took in his studio in Los Angeles in 1993, three years before the rapper was killed. 

Available in a limited edition series of 500 numbered copies, each hand-signed by Haddi, the book, also featuring quotes from Shakur, will retail at 100 pounds. In addition, a limited edition of 50 books coming in a black box with a hand-signed and numbered print will make for a collector’s item retailing at 1,500 pounds.  

The book’s launch will be followed by a series of events and meet-and-greet opportunities taking place across Europe and the U.S., as well as by Haddi’s first major solo show in Milan.

Staged by the city’s 29 Arts In Progress gallery, the retrospective will unfold over two consecutive exhibitions, with the first opening on Oct. 19 and running through Dec. 22, and the second slated to run Jan. 16 to March 16 next year. 

Titled “Michel Haddi: Beyond Fashion,” the show will display a selection of the most exemplary images of Haddi’s career — which spans more than 40 years — and part of his archive of portraits of top models and icons from the worlds of music and art, encompassing Malcolm X’s daughters, Liza Minnelli, David Bowie, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie, to name a few. The exhibit is slated to also showcase unexpected shots of Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymour, Yasmin Le Bon and Veruschka, among others.

Highlights of the show will include a 1989 image of Naomi Campbell shot at Café de Flore in Paris for British Vogue, as well as a 1992 photograph of Malcolm X’s daughters Ilyasah Shabazz and Gamilah Shabazz for Interview Magazine.

“This one is very important to me. It was [the] meeting of the century. I was going to meet the daughters of Malcolm X in New York,” said Haddi of the latter. “When I met Ilyasah and Gamilah I tried to play around using a double image. So that image, if you look carefully, shows one pair in front and one behind. And when you look at it at the beginning, you don’t realize it but there are four hands, not two,” he added, underscoring his goal was to “to show something beautiful, like an Egyptian princess.”

Overall, the retrospective intends to spotlight how Haddi succeeded in capturing the spirit of his time through the faces who have punctuated the history of Fashion, film and music, as well as his intimate and personal take on photography. 

Born in 1956 in Paris, Haddi had a turbulent childhood, moving between foster homes until the age of six, and eventually ending up at the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul Orphanage in the French capital. During this time, Haddi’s mother brought him copies of Vogue, which fascinated him throughout his childhood. Piqued by a particular shot by Helmut Newton, Haddi aspired to leave the city and become a photographer. 

He began assisting various ones in 1970, after a journey that took him by way of Saudi Arabia. Once in London, he then met his lifelong mentor Victor Herbert, who set him on the path to success. To wit, Haddi opened his first studio in 1980, starting to collaborate with glossy magazines including GQ and British Vogue. The following year he was commissioned by Vogue Hommes for a 10-page photoshoot, which resulted in a long partnership that took him to Italy, where in 1985 he met the late Vogue Italia editor in chief Franca Sozzani. 

From 1989 on, he moved around New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London and Milan, piling up key editorial collaborations and photographing advertising campaigns for the likes of Armani, Yves Saint-Laurent, Emilio Pucci, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Guerlain, to name a few.

This work will be particularly spotlighted in the second phase of his Milanese exhibition, which promises to show also Haddi’s brightly colored work in addition to his refined black-and-white photography. 

Both stages of the retrospective will be flanked by a schedule of live events with Haddi in attendance, with the aim to encourage the public to engage not only with his work but also interact with him in person.

The twofold show will also mark the 10th anniversary of the 29 Arts In Progress gallery, which represents internationally renowned photographers. This include Gian Paolo Barbieri, to whom the gallery has recently dedicated an exhibition, as reported.

Since its inception, 29 Arts In Progress has curated shows also in partnership with public and private institutions such as V&A Museum; Hong Kong Arts Centre; Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow; Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art in Saint Petersburg, in addition to Palazzo Reale and Triennale in Milan.