Lee Miller : a major exhibition devoted to the renowned photographer at the Museum of Modern Art

From April 10 to August 2, 2026, the Paris Musée d'Art Moderne will devote a major retrospective to photographer Lee Miller. Spanning nearly 250 vintage and contemporary prints, the exhibition aims to illuminate the breadth of the American artist's work, from her fashion shots to portraits and landscapes, and to her war photojournalism.

Following the biopic masterfully brought to life by Kate Winslet, the exhibition takes center stage. In 2026, the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris will dedicate a major retrospective to the renowned American photographer and war reporter Lee Miller (1907-1977). The exhibition, which premiered last autumn at Tate Britain in London, is heading to the capital from April 10 to August 2, 2026.

An opportunity to dive into the rich artistic journey of this woman of many talents, a true icon of surréalisme, and into the remarkable life of Lee Miller. Born on April 23, 1907 in New York State, Lee Miller begins by posing for several leading fashion photographers for the magazine Vogue in 1927, including Edward Steichen and George Hoyningen-Huene. She joins France two years later. It is there that she meets Man Ray, who becomes at once her muse, her lover and her assistant. In France, Lee Miller also crosses paths with Paul Éluard, Pablo Picasso, and Jean Cocteau.

Lee Miller's photography career, which until then had been limited to fashion shoots, portraits, and landscapes, takes a new turn in the 1940s. While working in London for British Vogue, Lee Miller is accredited by the U.S. Army and becomes, in the summer of 1944, a war correspondent for the American forces. Lee Miller then reveals the horrors of the concentration camps.

This retrospective dedicated to Lee Miller aims to highlight the diversity of her work and her life in perpetual motion, from New York to Paris, via Cairo and London, not to mention her many travels throughout Europe, North Africa, and the United States.

To this end, the exhibition presents nearly 250 vintage and contemporary prints, some well known and others unpublished, complemented by a rich body of documentation. Alongside the photographs, visitors will also find period magazines and the front pages that showcased Lee Miller’s images.

The retrospective traces the artist’s arc, from her early days in modeling to her latest artistic explorations around gastronomy. In every image, Lee Miller grows, redefines herself, experiments, pursues new paths, and asserts her voice. There is a potent energy in these photographs, and in a woman who seems to master every venture she undertakes. Yet these detours and discoveries do not come without consequences.

Lee Miller's fashion photography is often playful and witty, with meticulous attention to detail and composition. The war photographs are equally precise and nuanced—and even more powerful. Some images can be hard to look at, especially those from the concentration camps, which Miller visited as soon as they were liberated. War photographs of victims, shorn women, prisoners, children playing in front of ruined buildings... These images hit you hard, as gripping as they are heartbreaking.

The Modern Art Museum maps out the remarkable career of a pioneering woman and artist. This exhibition is set to attract a large audience: visitors may find themselves gridlocked as they follow the route, especially during peak hours.

It should be noted that the last Paris retrospective dedicated to the American photographer dates back to 2008. At the time, the event drew a wide audience to the Jeu de Paume. Eighteen years on, the Musée d'art Moderne de Paris now aims to offer a fresh look at Lee Miller's rich and diverse body of work. To discover it, visit from 10 April to 2 August 2026.

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