Mark De Paola| Provini Exhibition Opening Night

When Mark de Paola was twelve, he spent most of his time in Central Park shooting portraits with his newly acquired photography kit, proudly calling himself a “pro photographer.” One afternoon, he was held up at gunpoint and his equipment was stolen, an abrupt loss of both his emerging identity and the way he connected with others through photography.

After months of saving his allowance, he purchased his first Leica, a Leica M3 with a 50mm collapsible Summicron. That camera marked the true beginning of his journey with Leica and, with its 50mm lens, demanded that he become an active participant in every photograph, often standing just a meter from his subjects. It was through this closeness that he discovered portrait photography as a means of forging connection and deep, meaningful friendships.

Decades later, after a prolific cinematic and photographic career, de Paola continues to approach each collaboration with a commitment to creating a safe, non-judgmental space, pursuing honesty and truth between himself and every subject.

Provini is a powerful selection of de Paola’s portraits and collaborations that capture a purity of communication, embracing the out-of-focus areas of human perception. Shot entirely in natural light and without post-production, his organic process renders a painterly nostalgia and emotionality. Blurred lines and subtle aberrations drift across each image, highlighting every collaborator’s timeless strength in vulnerability.

Mark de Paola is a New York City-based fine art and fashion photographer and director with many years of experience shooting campaign and fine art commissions for the likes of Vogue Spain, Vogue Mexico, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Prabal Gurung, Aveda, Estee Lauder, Brioni, David Koma, Roksanda, and Saint Laurent. De Paola has directed several hundred television spots in the fashion/beauty sector including those for Giorgio RED Perfume (Bergdorf Goodman windows and MoMA NY), Donna Karan, Ducati, Leica Camera, Sony, Neutrogena, and Ford Motorsports.

De Paola's fine art work is included in public collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Getty in Los Angeles, the San Diego Center of Photographic Arts, and the TOP Museum in Tokyo. His photography monographs Recent Work I (2018), Recent Work II (2019), and Five Years and Sixty Seconds (2020) can be found with Leica Camera retailers in major cities worldwide. De Paola's solo exhibitions have traveled around the world including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dali (China), Tokyo, Milan (Triennale Museum), and at home in New York City.

De Paola’s forthcoming feature film A Stab At Heaven stars Ema McKie in a powerful nonfiction narrative, and is currently in development on feature The Final Film and in pre production for feature and limited series betterthandead. His newest publication, A Stab At Heaven, in collaboration with McKie is currently being released. De Paola's pictorialist work as a still and motion artist has been driven by his studies of the neurobiology and cognitive psychology of human vision.

Exbition Dates

January 9th, 2026 - April 2026

Exhibition hours

Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm

Sunday: 12pm-5pm

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