At just 19 years old, Max Saula has curated his first photography exhibition titled "Inheriting Dreams" at his father's gallery, Galeria Alta. The remarkable exhibition, featuring text by Christian Caujolle, showcases an eclectic collection of photographs that reflect the young curator's lifelong relationship with the medium and his authentic approach to art.
Saula's connection to photography began before his birth, as his father was already collecting photographs. From a young age, his parents took him to exhibitions, galleries, and fairs, making photography hanging on walls a natural part of his everyday life. "My father was collecting photographs long before I was born, and from a young age my parents took me to exhibitions, galleries, and fairs. For me, unlike many of my friends, photographs hanging on the walls were simply a part of everyday life I grew up surrounded by them," Saula explains.
Despite his youth, Saula approaches his curatorial role with remarkable maturity and humility. He speaks about his relationship with photography with modesty, stating "I have a lot to learn," while expressing genuine enthusiasm: "there are photos I was immediately drawn to, and still truly cherish." As he prepares to install his first exhibition in the family gallery, established in 2021, Max approaches the opportunity with a practical mindset and quiet determination.
The young curator doesn't overanalyze his role or posture as either a seasoned gallerist or a novice curator, even though he acknowledges being somewhat of both. Above all, he feels profound gratitude toward his parents and the trust they have placed in him. What truly drives him is a sincere need for authenticity, approaching his work as an amateur in the truest sense—a passionate admirer of the art who has chosen to display only photographs for which he feels genuine affection.
Saula demonstrates wisdom beyond his years in understanding how one's relationship with images evolves over time. "Some photographs I wanted immediately have sometimes lost a little of their magic, while others—photographs I may not have understood or valued at first have become essential to me. You learn to look, to really see. My father taught me a great deal," he reflects on his growing appreciation for the medium.
The exhibition features a carefully curated selection of photographs familiar to Saula that he holds dear and wishes to share. The collection presents an eclectic mix that is largely black and white with subtle flashes of color, dominated by American photographers from the twentieth century, with several works extending into the present. Rather than championing any single style or school, the selection maintains humanity at its heart, ranging from portraits to street scenes, from classic documentaries with unmistakable signatures to images revealing traces left by humans in their environment.
The overall impression of the collection is one of classicism infused with delightful surprises and even hints of humor. The entire selection radiates the pleasure of choices made freely, without being confined by current fashions or trends. While there are several images exploring movement or abstraction, the human element remains central to the curatorial vision.
Caujolle notes that being a gallerist represents a unique vocation: acting as an intermediary and facilitator between artwork and its audience. "The first duty is to defend the artists, which sometimes means selling artworks the gallerist might wish to keep. Too many people, unfortunately, see only the business side. But there is much more to it: at its core, the process is one of exchange," he explains. This exchange involves not just trading objects for money, but also exchanging viewpoints, emotions, and ideas—the gallerist is not simply selling but transmitting.
At the heart of this remarkable initiative, made possible by his parents' encouragement, Max represents a new and younger generation. This generation is accustomed to viewing images, especially moving ones, on screens of all sizes rather than studying prints and appreciating their subtleties. The challenge lies in introducing this generation to the depth of photography—images crafted with care, before which Saula imagines the photographers' presence, tries to guess their intentions, and understand what inspired them to release the shutter and compose the shot.
The exhibition likely achieves this goal by inviting viewers to slow down and linger before the photographs, looking beyond the superficial. This approach probably requires a blend of surprise and emotion, precise composition, and touches of dreaminess or whimsy—elements that can spark curiosity and gradually shape how viewers perceive images. As Caujolle concludes, "Learning how to look—really look—is always essential; from there, each person will decide what resonates most with them."
The impressive roster of featured artists includes renowned photographers such as Berenice Abbott, Bruce Davidson, Harold Edgerton, Louis Faurer, Frank Horvat, William Klein, Jessica Lange, Saul Leiter, Vivian Maier, Dolorès Marat, Ramón Masats, Ryan McGinley, Steven Meisel, Ray K. Metzker, Joel Meyerowitz, Gjon Mili, Sarah Moon, Marvin E. Newman, Dorothy Norman, Ruth Orkin, Pancho Saula, Louis Stettner, Larry Towell, Bruce Weber, Weegee, William Wegman, Clark Winter, and Txema Yeste.
"Inheriting Dreams," curated by Max Saula with an essay by Christian Caujolle, will run from September 11 through November 7, 2025, at Galeria Alta, located at Camí de les Majobarnes 6, AD400 Anyós, Andorra. The gallery operates by appointment only and can be contacted through their website at www.galeriaalta.com.
