Stylists Step Into the Spotlight in “Exposure – The Power of Being Seen”

Behind every carefully constructed public appearance is someone rarely acknowledged: the stylist. Not the celebrity, not the designer, but the figure who interprets identity and translates it into image. Exposure – The Power of Being Seen at ITS Arcademy in Trieste places that role firmly centre stage.

Curated by Belgian stylist Tom Eerebout—who has dress many celebrities including Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue—the exhibition brings together garments and accessories worn by figures such as Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Madonna, Björk, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Yet the focus is not on celebrity itself, but on the creative process behind it.

What sets Exposure apart is its argument that fashion here operates less as clothing and more as narrative control. The red carpet emerges not as spectacle alone, but as a stage where image is deliberately constructed—where visibility is negotiated, shaped, and performed.

Alongside these high-profile pieces, the exhibition also highlights work tied to the ITS Contest, showcasing early designs from emerging talents whose experiments now form part of the museum’s permanent collection. The inclusion points to the origins of these visual conversations, long before they reach a global audience.

Exposure – The Power of Being Seen, from Harry Styles to Lady Gaga runs until 3 January 2027, offering a rare look at the invisible authors behind some of pop culture’s most recognisable images.