Paul Kooiker opens Acne Paper Palais Royal «They gave me carte blanche. I followed only my own vision»

On June 26, 2025, Acne Studios will officially open Acne Paper Palais Royal, a multidisciplinary cultural space inspired by its namesake magazine. Located under the neoclassical arcades of the Palais Royal, the gallery will host exhibitions, talks, editorial launches, and cultural events, aiming to become a platform for creative dialogue between tradition and innovation. The debut exhibition is by Paul Kooiker, one of the most original visual artists working today, known for his conceptual and experimental photography. For this opening, Kooiker presents a completely new body of work conceived specifically for the gallery. «It all started with Thomas from Acne Paper,» Kooiker explains. «We had already worked together twice before, and this time he approached me with a very simple proposal: ‘Carte blanche. Do whatever you want.’ That was the only condition and it was precisely what convinced me. It’s rare to receive that kind of freedom.»

Kooiker emphasizes that the exhibition is not linked in any way to fashion or to the Acne brand. «This is my own fine art. It’s what I do when I’m not working on commissions. It’s my visual language, my passion. It’s not inspired by fashion, nor is it influenced by it. This project comes from a different place entirely something more intimate and autonomous.» The exhibition presents 42 portraits of international students from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, photographed in 2025. At first glance, the images resemble traditional school portraits, but a closer look reveals a deeper exploration of identity and the uncertainties of contemporary life. «I was interested in capturing a kind of ambiguity in their expressions,» says Kooiker. «We’re living in uncertain times. These young people are entering a world that changes constantly, and I wanted that sense of fragility and transition to come through in the images naturally, without forcing it.»

Set against the historic backdrop of the Palais Royal and its gardens, the gallery reflects Acne Studios’ founding spirit born in Stockholm in 1996 as a multidisciplinary collective. With this opening, Acne Studios affirms its commitment not only to fashion, but to the broader cultural landscape, creating a space where established voices and new talent can coexist and evolve.