PADUA.- From April 25 to September 28, 2025, the Altinate | San Gaetano Cultural Center in Padua will host the most comprehensive exhibition ever dedicated to one of photography’s most intriguing figures: Vivian Maier. With over 200 color and black-and-white photographs, immersive rooms, personal items, rare documents, audio recordings, and Super 8 films, this blockbuster retrospective offers a rare glimpse into the hidden life and brilliant work of an artist who was discovered only after her death.


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Following the record-breaking success of the Monet exhibition, the City of Padua has partnered once again with cultural group Arthemisia to bring a world-class event to the city—this time spotlighting the mysterious nanny who secretly created one of the most compelling photographic archives of the 20th century.

A Life in the Shadows, A Legacy in Light

Vivian Maier (1926–2009) lived a quiet life working as a nanny in New York and Chicago. But behind the scenes, she was documenting the world around her with stunning precision and empathy—armed with her trusty Rolleiflex camera and an eye for the everyday moments that others missed.

She didn’t share her photos. In fact, they remained hidden until 2007, when a storage unit containing thousands of her undeveloped rolls of film was auctioned off. One of the buyers, John Maloof, recognized their extraordinary quality and went on to bring Maier's work to the world stage. His Oscar-nominated documentary Finding Vivian Maier in 2014 helped spark a global fascination with her life and art.

Inside the Exhibition

Curated by Anne Morin, the world’s leading expert on Maier, the exhibition is more than a showcase—it’s a deep dive into the themes and subjects that defined her style. Visitors can expect to see:

• Intense self-portraits that hint at her complex inner world

• Candid urban scenes from the streets of mid-century America

• Touching portraits of children, both those she cared for and those she encountered by chance

• Unflinching depictions of poverty and loneliness, giving voice to those often overlooked

The show avoids turning Maier into just a mystery to be solved. Instead, it highlights her as an artist of profound vision—someone who made photography her way of processing the world, even if she never sought recognition.

A Cultural Highlight for Padua

City Councilor for Culture, Andrea Colasio, called the exhibition “a celebration of a remarkable woman whose story continues to captivate the world.” He praised the show’s ability to elevate Padua’s status as a hub for high-quality cultural tourism. “From medieval frescoes to modern photography,” he said, “Padua is a city where art lives and breathes.”

Iole Siena, President of Arthemisia, sees the exhibition as a perfect way to mark the organization’s 25th anniversary. “Vivian Maier moves us, makes us laugh, and invites us to reflect. She’s one of the most passionate and fascinating artists of the 20th century, and it’s a joy to bring her to Padua.”

A Timeless View of the Human Condition

For Maier, photography wasn’t about fame—it was about capturing life as it happened. Whether photographing a banker in Midtown, a homeless man in the park, or a child on the sidewalk, her lens was unflinching and deeply human. She often turned the camera on herself, creating self-portraits that feel like early selfies, quietly asserting her place in the world.

Over her lifetime, Maier shot more than 150,000 negatives. For decades, they sat unseen in boxes. Today, they are considered one of the most important photographic archives of the 20th century.

This spring and summer, Padua gives you the chance to experience her work up close—to step into the world of a woman who saw beauty, pain, humor, and truth in the small, fleeting moments of everyday life.


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