50 Years Leica Galleries - Exhibition in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, 03 March 2026

Images Shaping the World

For fifty years, Leica Galleries have been a window on the world — a place where the art of seeing takes center stage. 

Since the opening of the first gallery in 1976, Leica Galleries worldwide have provided a platform for photographers who not only capture moments with their lenses, but also translate emotions, stories, and the spirit of the times into images.
This anniversary celebrates half a century of visual culture, craftsmanship, and innovation. 

From iconic black-and-white reportages to contemporary color studies, from street photography to conceptual work — each image testifies to the power of photography as a universal language. Leica's heritage is deeply rooted in the history of photography. Beloved by generations of image makers, its cameras have helped countless eyes see the world differently. 

The Leica Galleries are an extension of that heritage: meeting places where tradition and progress intersect, where masters and new talent explore the boundaries of the image together. 50 years of Leica Galleries is more than a retrospective. 
It is an invitation to take a fresh look — at the past, present, and future of photography.

The exhibition at the Leica Gallery Amsterdam features works by three female photographers: Esther Haase, Henrike Stahl, and Donata Wenders, and three male photographers: Werner Bischof, Jurgen Schadeberg, and Alex Webb. The exhibition provides an overview of black-and-white, street photography, and experimental mixed media photography created between 1939 and the present day. It is striking that Donata Wenders, Esther Haase, and Jurgen Schadeberg are also video and film makers.

 

Information:
Linda Warmerdam | Manager/ curator 
+31 623766568

Leica Gallery Amsterdam
Van Baerlestraat 74, 1071 BA  Amsterdam
www.leicastoreamsterdam.nl/gallery
info@leicagalleryamsterdam.nll.warmerdam@transcontinenta.nl

Short Biografie

Werner Bischof
Werner Bischof (Zürich 1916– Peru 1954) is one of the most significant photographers of the 20th century. He gained recognition primarily for his impressive black and white images. The exhibition features his colourful studiowork , in which he was far ahead of his time. 

Esther Haase 
Since 1993 she has been dancing around the world with her camera and head full of creative visions. The exhibition shows colourful street photography with a twist of fashion and a lot of life and humor. 

Jürgen Schadeberg
Jürgen Schadeberg (1931–2020) was a German-born South African photographer and artist. The exhibition features his Black & White street photography, in which everyday life is mixed with humor. 

Henrike Stahl
She, the German woman who has been commuting between Paris and Berlin for a long time, without choosing a permanent home. She, the bold woman who takes a raw and delicate look at hollow teeth and intimate cavities, at territories and identities in transition. In the exhibition, Henrike shows, among other things, the story of her daughter's dream of living as a castle lady. The fairy tale with the Prince on the horse. 

Alex Webb
Alex Webb (born May 5, 1952) is a photographer who makes vibrant and complex color photographs. The exhibition features Alex Webb's distinctive and colorful photographs, taken during some of his many travels. 

Donata Wenders
Donata Wenders was born in Berlin in 1965. She studied film and theater in Berlin and Stuttgart and began her artistic career as a cinematographer for feature films and documentaries.  The exhibition features photographic works that accompany Donata Wenders' video installations and channels. Donata Wenders' work will also be on display during Art Rotterdam X Unseen from March 26-29 in Rotterdam. 

Press-release-50-Years-Amsterdam.pdf
English
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À propos de Leica Camera

Leica Camera AG est un fabricant haut de gamme d’appareils photo, d’objectifs et de produits d’observation. Entreprise internationale, elle peut s’enorgueillir d’une histoire qui couvre plus d’un siècle et demi. Dans le contexte de sa stratégie de développement, elle a étendu ses activités au Mobile Imaging (smartphones), ainsi qu’à la conception de verres de lunettes et de montres de qualité supérieure. Elle est également représentée dans le segment du home cinéma par ses projecteurs.

Le groupe Leica Camera AG se compose de son siège situé à Wetzlar, en Allemagne, d’un deuxième site de production à Vila Nova de Famalicão, au Portugal, et d’un réseau de plus de 120 Leica Stores dans le monde. L’entreprise emploie plus de 2400 collaboratrices et collaborateurs et a réalisé un chiffre d’affaires de 554 millions d’euros sur l’année financière 2023/24.

La marque Leica, c’est une qualité supérieure, ainsi qu’un savoir-faire et un design industriel allemands, le tout combiné à des technologies innovantes. Un élément important de la culture de la marque est la promotion de la photographie par le biais de près de trente galeries Leica, des Leica Akademies ainsi que de prix internationaux tels que le Leica Hall of Fame Award et le Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).