Centenary Exhibition in Madrid
Celebrate 100 years of Leica in Madrid
The iconic German camera brand Leica commemorates its centenary with an unprecedented photographic exhibition in an emblematic venue such as the Fernán Gómez. Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid.
The exhibition "Leica. A Century of Photography" celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the creation of the brand's first camera, the legendary Leica I, through an exceptional journey across the work of great international photographers.
The exhibition opens its doors free of charge on 10 September 2025 and can be visited until 11 January 2026, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The exhibition organized to mark Leica's centenary brings together 174 photographs by a selection of artists associated with Leica during the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Fernán Gómez. Centro Cultural de la Villa in Madrid, thus becomes the venue for the largest international exhibition of the centenary. Through a a collective journey, visitors will discover how the brand has accompanied great photographers and witnessed key moments in history. The exhibition also includes a journey through Leica's own history.
Discover the story behind each photograph
Access the audio guide for the exhibition "Leica. A Century of Photography" and learn interesting facts and details about the photographs on display:
More than an exhibition:
a full agenda of activities
Free entry, advance booking required
Colloquium: "El papel del fotógrafo ante el riesgo de la imagen falsa de la IA"
Thursday, 18 September 2025 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- Álvaro Ybarra: photographer and author featured in the exhibition.
- Rodrigo Rivas: photographer and Leica Akademie Manager.
At a time when the false takes on a credible form, Álvaro Ybarra Zavala launches a passionate defence of documentary photography as a human and truthful witness. With Leica as an extension of his gaze, he advocates a way of storytelling based on ethics, commitment and truth.
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© Liesel Springmann/Leica Camera Archiv
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Round table discussion: Leica 100: “Historia de una evolución consciente"
Thursday, 25 September 2025 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- Valentín Sama: photographer and photography specialist.
- Manolo Laguillo: photographer and author featured in the exhibition.
- Rodrigo Rivas: photographer and Leica Akademie Manager.
In this discussion, photographers and experts Valentín Sama and Manuel Laguillo will explore the technical and philosophical evolution of the legendary Leica M series, from its origins in the Leica I to its consolidation as an absolute benchmark in design and optical quality.
Round table discussion: “Leica: Trabajo, trabajo y más trabajo”
Thursday, 9 October 2025 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- César Lucas: photographer and author featured in the exhibition.
- Bernardo Pérez: photographer and author featured in the exhibition.
- Rodrigo Rivas: photographer and Leica Akademie Manager.
In this discussion, two leading figures in Spanish photojournalism, César Lucas and Bernardo Pérez, will share experiences, anecdotes and reflections forged in the heat of the profession. With Leica as their faithful travelling companion, they will explore how perseverance, a trained eye and the right camera have shaped decades of visual history.
Colloquium: "No hay tregua"
Thursday, 16 October 2025 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- Clemente Bernard: photographer and author featured in the exhibition.
- Rodrigo Rivas: photographer and Leica Akademie Manager.
Photographing to tell a story, so that photographs serve a purpose, to destabilize, to unsettle, to confront, to open windows, to activate the critical capacity of images, to visit the edges, to question, to resist. To enjoy. In this talk-colloquium, Clemente Bernad will share his committed vision, where photography becomes a necessary act, without concessions.
Exclusive Anniversary Editions
For 100 years, we have pursued our passion to develop inspiring products and capture meaningful moments. Be inspired by our exclusive 100 YEARS OF LEICA anniversary editions.
A journey through a hundred years of art, emotion and legacy
The public will be able to enjoy the work of authors such as Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Alberto Korda, Ralph Gibson, Sebastião Salgado, Steve McCurry, Joel Meyerovitz and Jane Evelyn Atwood, alongside other lesser-known artists, thus broadening our knowledge of the history of photography and the history of Leica itself since Ernst Leitz II decided to mass-produce Oskar Barnack's revolutionary invention, the “Ur-Leica”. The original prototype dates back to 1914, but its further development was delayed until 1925 due to the outbreak of the First World War.
Karin Rehn-Kaufmann
Art Director Leica Galleries Worldwide
Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Art Director Leica Gallery International: "We didn't just want to show the most famous and iconic photographs, but also personal, surprising and intimate moments. Our selection is not strictly chronological, but follows an emotional thread. We looked for images that tell a story, that make the magic of the Leica gaze tangible, across decades, genres and points of view. The Leica camera is a tool, yes, but it is the people behind it who shape the moment. That's why we focus on the unique visual voice of each photographer."
The world's largest Leica M6
The camera that made history, now on a grand scale. As part of the exhibition, visitors will be able to admire the large sculpture of the iconic Leica M6. This monumental piece, known as the M6 XXL and first presented at the 1994 Photokina trade fair in Cologne, will be on display at the Fernán Gómez Cultural Centre in Madrid, offering a unique opportunity to admire this tribute to one of the most emblematic models in Leica's history.
