Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Portraitist Rainer Hosch opens the vault. In his latest solo exhibition, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the artist reveals a trove of previously unseen photographs—an archive of pop culture’s most mythic figures—presented in Gallery Poulsen’s debut showing for the Copenhagen Photo Festival. But this is more than a portrait show. Hosch reshapes these familiar faces into visual grids—rhythmic, cinematic mosaics of music, art, and screen legends—each composition a constellation of influence. In addition to his signature portraits of iconic faces, Hosch reveals two new beachscapes from his ongoing series “Topanga Beach.” 

Known for his signature ring flash, Hosch strips away veneer with a single shot. The light doesn’t just illuminate; it exposes. What remains is raw presence—unguarded and raw reportage of the person behind the personal. Hosch transforms Hollywood, in all its shimmer, into a rendered human experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Copenhagen exhibition marks a significant return for Hosch, whose work is part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of Photography. But this time, he brings the studio with him. The gallery transforms into a pop-up photo studio, where Hosch and his camera take center stage, capturing new portraits while George Clooney, Meryl Streep, John Malkovich, Iggy Pop, and Whoopi Goldberg watch from the walls.

What sets this exhibition apart is its invitation—not only to witness history but to enter it. With each acquired work, collectors receive something extraordinary: a personal portrait session with Hosch himself. Stepping in front of Hosch’s lens is an induction. You become part of the very archive that captures our cultural canon. Through his lens, you don’t just collect the mythology—you join it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood opens on Friday, June 13, and will be on view through July 7, 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

Featured Image: George Clooney, Hedsor Park, 2016 

All images courtesy  of Rainer Hosch