Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Roni Horn and Alice Neel in GIRLS. Adolescence, Fashion, Rebellion

Long confined to a handful of clichés and reduced to images of tenderness, innocence or fragility, the figure of the teenage girl has rarely been considered in all its emotional, psychological and political depth. Yet her world is rich in symbols and unexpected forms of power.

Bringing together artworks, clothing, accessories, photographs, film excerpts, archival material and everyday objects, the exhibition brings the perspectives of multidisciplinary artists into dialogue and reveals how female adolescence continues to be a major source of inspiration for contemporary creation. From Louise Bourgeois to Sofia Coppola, and from Martin Margiela to Simone Rocha and Jenny Fax, the works explore the many facets of girlhood and challenge the rigid conception of femininity that Western art has long imposed on young women.

Restrictive or liberating clothing, subverted archetypes, memories of boredom or daydreaming, images circulated through magazines: across five thematic sections, the exhibition explores the many representations of female adolescence and traces how they have evolved over time.

Conceived in dialogue with teenagers, in an inclusive approach open to the full diversity of genders and identities, Girls. Adolescence, Fashion, Rebellion invites visitors to look anew at this stage of life and at the representations that continue to shape our collective imagination. A rich cultural programme, funded by the ENGIE Foundation, will extend this reflection and will be unveiled shortly.

This exhibition was conceived and organized by MoMu - Fashion Museum Antwerp (September 27, 2025 - February 1, 2026) and adapted for the GrandPalaisRmn.