In the first museum retrospective since his untimely death in 2023, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam presents a landmark show of the work of Erwin Olaf, opening on the 11th of October.
The exhibition pays tribute to the versatile and multifaceted artist that he was and illuminates his entire creative process. Besides iconic artworks and series of Erwin Olaf, the presentation also features lesser-known work, including videos and sculptures, his commercial photography, and personal archive material. The exhibition culminates with his last work, an unfinished video.
The exhibition charts a course through Erwin Olaf’s rich body of work, starting with his journalistic, candid black-and-white reportages from the early 1980s. Focusing on subjects such as gay rights demonstrations, these highlight his commitment to social issues. Olaf’s love of light and composition is evident; his pursuit of greater control over the composition prompted him to take the next step—staged studio photography. The exhibition features iconic and lesser-known examples from series such as Ladies Hats (1985-2022), Chessmen (1987-88), Royal Blood (2000), Grief (2007), Fashion Victims (2000), Berlin (2012), and Skin Deep (2015), as well as commissioned work such as SM in Holland (1989) and photography for the Dutch National Ballet.
The Museum are also running a number of special events connected to the exhibition including:
- A publication in collaboration with Hannibal books, featuring contributions from Rein Wolfs, Paco Barragán, Charlotte Cotton, Jonathan Turner, Francis Hodgson, Tahrim Ramdjan, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Taco Dibbits in conversation with Hans van Manen, and a conversation between Lars Been, Shirley den Hartog, and Charl Landvreugd.
- Free introductory lectures on Saturdays and Sundays
- A programme for students of Secondary Vocational Educaiton (MBO)
- A Museum Night on the 1st of November, focusing on the themes of night culture and self-expression
- A party at Paradiso, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, inspired by the popular the dansants that Erwin Olaf organized there.