Dominik Gehl Photography

Founded in 1985 by Charles-Henri Favrod, Photo Elysée in Lausanne is dedicated to the art and history of photography and recognized as one of the leading institutions for photography in Europe. The museum’s collection encompasses over one million photographs and related items, spanning the invention of photography to contemporary works.

https://elysee.ch/en/

Architecture

Since June 2022, the two museums Photo Elysée and mudac share a building designed by the Portuguese architecture firm Aires Mateus. For more details about the building's architectural concept and distinctive features, visit https://dominikgehl.com/lausanne-mudac-photo-elysee.

Current Exhibition(s)

Tyler Mitchell

2025-03-28 - 2025-08-17

Wish This Was Real is American photographer Tyler Mitchell’s first solo exhibition in Switzerland. Known for blending themes of beauty, utopia, and Black identity, Mitchell explores visions of paradise shaped by the complexities of history and social context. The exhibition spans his early portraits and videos to recent landscapes, all reflecting his ongoing interest in self-determination and the potential of everyday life.

Olympism Made Visible

2025-03-28 - 2025-08-17

Olympism Made Visible is a global photography initiative by the Olympic Museum that explores how sport can inspire social change and personal transformation. Since 2018, twelve internationally acclaimed photographers have been invited to document the impact of Olympic values in diverse communities, from young women in Rio’s favelas to refugees in Rwanda and everyday athletes in cities worldwide.

Olympism made visible

Champions of Tomorrow, Poulomi Basu

Past Exhibition(s)

Daido Moriyama

(2024-09-06 - 2025-02-23)

Photo Elysée presents a major retrospective of Daido Moriyama, one of Japan's most influential photographers, following stops in Berlin and London. Spanning his 60-year career, the exhibition highlights Moriyama's transformative impact on photography, documenting post-war Japanese society while challenging the medium itself.

Daido Moriyama

Sabine Weiss x Nathalie Boutté

(2024-06-22 - 2025-02-23)

To celebrate the centenary of Sabine Weiss (1924–2021), Photo Elysée presents an exhibition showcasing her iconic works and inviting visual artist Nathalie Boutté to reinterpret her photography through intricate paper-based art. The exhibition highlights Weiss’s enduring legacy, featuring treasures from her archives, which she entrusted to Photo Elysée in 2017 and which were officially integrated into the museum’s collections in 2024.

Sabine Weiss x Nathalie Boutté

Man Ray

(2024-03-29 - 2024-08-04)

Man Ray (1890–1976) transitioned from painting to photography to break free from traditional aesthetics, becoming a central figure in the avant-garde movement of the 1920s and 30s. As a portraitist, fashion photographer, and experimental artist, he captured Paris’ artistic milieu while pushing the boundaries of photographic innovation. This exhibition, drawn from a private collection, highlights his iconic works and influential social circle, showcasing his role as a key contributor to modern art and photography.