SOLVE SUNDSBO & PIRELLI – A Tale of Two Icons
- 5' ELEVEN''
- 51 minutes ago
- 10 min read
For this 2026, two icons join forces to create a celebration of positive feminine energy, empowerment and groundbreaking creativity.
Words by Leigh Maynard. All images courtesy of Pirelli and Sølve Sundsbø.
To be a great artist or icon is something quite elusive, an achievement or title sought by many, attained by few. Coming to fruition through several factors, it includes not only an awareness of their strengths and limitations but often having that inimitable something that ensures they stand apart from their contemporaries. Perhaps crucially, achieving such a status stems from the ability to continuously explore and adopt new ideas, societal touchpoints, and mediums, as well as harnessing the power of reinvention.
This is a story of two icons who have joined forces to create art unmatched, a capsule in time, a piece of history. The first, the Pirelli Calendar, is an example of adaptation and innovation. The second, is an artist and photographer who has helped to shape the face of modern fashion photography: Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø.
The former, the Pirelli Calendar, is globally recognised, and although it has sometimes raised questions about its content and motivations, it has consistently challenged perceptions and remained part of the cultural zeitgeist. Beginning as a marketing tool for Pirelli UK, a subsidiary of the leading brand, the Cal™, as it has come to be known, is undoubtedly a publication recognised across countries and generations - an icon across time. Through the decades, the Pirelli Calendar has captured the imaginations of consumers and creatives alike. Sometimes referred to as “the world's most famous calendar,” it is known not only for celebrating the brand and its gold standard tyres but also for showcasing the talent and prominent models that have graced its pages over the years. However, Cal™ is not just a mere calendar; it has also become a barometer, mirroring and often challenging societal expectations while depicting contemporary celebrity style, gender politics and beauty standards.
First published in 1964, the calendar was initially produced as a gift for select clients and celebrities, with its exclusivity rendering it a much sought-after object. From its inception, the calendar sought to break convention, moving away from traditional formats and adopting a wider, more exploratory, creative approach to photography. Through the work of appointed art director Derek Forsyth and British photographer Robert Freeman, as well as fashion-forward photographers such as Brian Duffy, Tim Walker and Paolo Roversi, the calendar has continued to offer a new narrative on art and femininity.
Between 1964 and 2025, with some minor interruptions, 40 photographers have produced 51 Pirelli Calendars. Each artist captures Pirelli's concept and heritage through their individual lenses, producing thought-provoking content and visuals that reframe the calendar model. During this timeline, the calendar has consistently captured the era, with early editions that depicted the “Swinging Sixties” ethos of a more liberal, aspirational, and glamorous way of life. At the same time, the 1970s brought challenges. With the oil crisis causing a pause in production, the situation highlighted the economic realities of the time and the art world's connection to commerce. The 1980s heralded the rise of the supermodel, and alongside it, the Pirelli Calendar reflected society's growing obsession with global icons. In comparison, the 2000s saw a shift in the calendar's aesthetic, taking it in a more experimental direction through the work of photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, and Peter Lindbergh.
The Pirelli Calendar’s 2016 depiction of influential and accomplished women broke away from its original, more exclusive and voyeuristic ethos, instead embracing change, representing women positively and challenging assumptions. Roversi's incarnations of Juliet in the 2020 edition examined the shape of modern identity, and the calendar's inclusion of talents like Ru Paul and Lupita Nyong’o has further solidified its commitment to inclusivity and a more progressive approach, all cementing the Pirelli Calendar’s place within the contemporary art and fashion sphere.
It’s a great honour to be part of the pantheon of photographers who have created the Pirelli Calendar over the years. It remains one of the rare projects that places a pure and powerful focus on photography itself, and it’s deeply meaningful to contribute to such a storied legacy
Ultimately, the Pirelli Calendar is an icon that has achieved such status precisely because of its ability to embody the spirit of adaptation and innovation, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to artistic expression. For each edition, it is customary for the calendar to be shot by a photographer who not only understands and aligns with the brand’s vision, but also respects its heritage, simultaneously bringing their signature photographic style to the project. And that is why, ultimately, the choice of photographer for the 2026 calendar seems so incredibly fitting. Here,our second icon, photographer Sølve Sundsbø, enters the narrative. Sølve's inimitable vision and accomplished craftsmanship have placed him at the forefront of his profession. Renowned for his uncompromising and progressive approach to fashion photography, he creates groundbreaking visuals that harness modern techniques and technology.
Born in Norway in 1970, Sølve came to London in 1995 to study photography at the London College of Printing. Today, while he still resides in that city with his family, he continues to draw inspiration from his homeland, with its clean, Scandinavian aesthetic. Throughout his career, Sølve has become renowned for his boundary-pushing imagery, capturing our imaginations with his uncompromising perspective on fashion photography and film. There is, at once, fearlessness and exhilaration encapsulated in his body of work, and it sets him apart in a time when our world is oversaturated with photography and the moving image. But there is also something incredibly delicate that resides alongside Sølve’s bold aesthetic. One of his first works, commissioned and shot for Giorgio Armani, depicts a model against an olive backdrop. Through light and pose, the image captures a delicacy that is beautifully melancholic, expressive, and almost painterly. But perhaps his portrait of Karen Elson, with its bright, contrasting hues and cigarette smoke suspended in time, remains one of the most enduring examples. As powerful today as the day it was shot, it is cemented in our imaginations in an arguably iconic status, a testament to his lasting impact. When it comes to the moving image, Sølve’s bold, multi-layered film for V Magazine’s Fall 2024 issue makes for an arresting short, while his 2020 personal project, which ‘asked us to imagine the acceptable limits of the human face,’ demonstrates his trailblazing philosophy, not only to his visuals but also to societal norms.
However, a project that perhaps best encapsulates his long-term vision is not in fashion but with flowers. Digitally reworking and distorting nature’s bold and sculptural beauty; the resulting images fall at the intersection of the natural world and technology. As Sølve notes, these works are ‘created with curiosity and without compromise,’ a sentiment that captures the true essence of his vision. In Sølve’s portfolio, there is a fascination, a wonder, and a desire to look at things from an entirely different perspective. In doing so, he prompts us in the most arresting way to look at the world with fresh eyes. Where others may shun modern approaches, Sølve embraces techniques, ranging from 3-D to hand-painting and retouching, to stunning effect. It is this continued process of experimentation that renders his work so compelling and distinctive.
Sølve’s commercial portfolio exemplifies his vision and talent, including work with some of the most prominent fashion houses, such as Bulgari, Cartier, CHANEL, Estée Lauder, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Guerlain, Hermes, to name a few. His passion for framing his art through magazines has taken his work to the pages and covers of the most prominent publications, including Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar Italia, I-D, Love, The New York Times, Numéro, and more. Meanwhile, his 2011 piece entitled “14 Actors Acting” garnered him an Emmy Award for “New Approaches to News and Documentary Programming: Arts, Lifestyle and Culture.”
Most people have an idea of what the Calendar is, but it’s not one thing. The Calendar has been so varied over all the years it has existed. I see my work as having a clear nod to the past, but hopefully it will be viewed as a new, fresh development
Sølve Sundsbø is undoubtedly a masterful choice for the latest edition of the Pirelli Calendar, exemplifying the brand’s receptive approach to modern societal and creative narratives, as well as boundary-pushing visuals. For Sølve, this involves taking the imagery to new dimensions whilst artfully blending past and present in each shot. He lends insight into this season’s central theme, honouring the signature Pirelli style that people have come to expect, while exploring new technology and remaining true to his own hallmarks. "Most people have an idea of what the Calendar is, but it’s not one thing. The Calendar has been so varied over all the years it has existed. I see my work as having a clear nod to the past, but hopefully it will be viewed as a new, fresh development. You just have to be honest about what you want to say, and don't worry about the past. The central theme is nature, represented through elements. To bring this vision to life, we utilised cutting-edge technology to evoke a sense of nature within the studio, projecting vast natural landscapes onto enormous LED screens. This fusion of technology, sensuality, and the natural world has created a series of images that are both visually striking and sensorially immersive.”
Though his work is bold, visionary and award-winning, Sølve remains humble in accepting his place among the photography greats who have shaped the calendar’s legacy. "It’s a great honour to be part of the pantheon of photographers who have created the Pirelli Calendar over the years. It remains one of the rare projects that places a pure and powerful focus on photography itself, and it’s deeply meaningful to contribute to such a storied legacy", he says.
For the 2026 Calendar, Sølve and his team shot between Norfolk, Essex, and New York City, crafting a symbiosis between man, machine, technology, and emotion. The result is a clear expression of his singular vision, one that compels us to shift our way of seeing. "For the 2026 Calendar, I want to capture emotions, instincts and states of mind that are central to human life, so longing for freedom, curiosity, thirst for knowledge, I guess you can call it. Some kind of mystery, imagination, passions, the desire for emancipation, the connection with nature and our relationship with time and space. It's a way of connecting us to something that we come from. Very big issues, but you know, let's try to be ambitious", Sølve explains.
From models like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, and Claudia Schiffer, to actors such as Sophia Loren, Penelope Cruz, Uma Thurman, Nicole Kidman, and athletes including Serena Williams, the varied past talents featured in the Pirelli Calendar represent a breadth of femininity, empowerment, and achievement. Where Julianne Moore exemplifies the calendar's acceptance of mature beauty, Yoko Ono represents the range of its appreciation for art and culture. Through his curation of this season’s talent, Sølve not only succinctly showcases his artistry but also offers a striking portrayal of modern womanhood. His cast for 2026 includes incredible talents such as Tilda Swinton, Gwendoline Christie, FKA Twigs, and Venus Williams. He explains his process and expectations during the selection process, as well as his thoughts on inclusivity: “I was very involved in the casting and wanted to photograph and film women I admire and often collaborated with in the past. They are all incredibly talented in their own right. All of them are collaborating to communicate our common goal. My work has always tried to be inclusive, and it has been informed by that since the start. I want to propose and position the women of the 2026 Pirelli calendar in a visually unexpected world whose poetry and magical realism evoke a sensuality and intimate mystery with which the viewer connects both emotionally and sensorially.”
Of course, the production of such a calendar is only possible through close collaboration between the photographer and his team. Sølve acknowledges this collective effort while elaborating further on the people he chose to work with for the 2026 calendar. “It’s always a team effort, and for this project, I wanted to work with longtime collaborators. It began with the brilliant casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro and his team, whose support was invaluable. Stylist Jerry Stafford was a constant creative force, and the Calendar's designer is my talented friend Greger Ulf Nilson. For the London shoot, we had an exceptional team: DOP Benoît Delhomme, Make-up Artist Val Garland, Hair Stylists Syd Hayes and Ali Pirzadeh, Manicurist Adam Slee, Set Designer Robbie Doig and Costume Designer Stevie Stewart. In New York, we continued working with the same Set Designer, alongside DOP Tristan Sheridan, Makeup Artist James Kaliardos, Hairstylist Bob Recine, and Manicurist Megumi Yamamoto. My studio was phenomenal, led by studio manager Paula Ekenger and my brilliant assistants. Production was superbly handled by The Production Club. For stills post-production, we worked with the team at Digital Light, and for film post-production, we worked with Samuel Stephenson and St. Louis. Every one of these collaborators is extraordinary in their field, people I trust, admire, and genuinely love working with.”
For the 2026 Calendar, I want to capture emotions, instincts and states of mind that are central to human life, so longing for freedom, curiosity, thirst for knowledge, I guess you can call it. Some kind of mystery, imagination, passions, the desire for emancipation, the connection with nature and our relationship with time and space. It's a way of connecting us to something that we come from. Very big issues, but you know, let's try to be ambitious
With the 2026 Calendar completed, Sølve has begun working on new projects that fuel his creative appetite. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one such work includes an upcoming book that explores the power of AI, specifically in the context of the aforementioned florals. “I have just completed a book with a new Japanese publisher with flowers generated in AI. The AI model was entirely trained on flowers from my own archive. Ethically sourced AI if you like. I also just did a cover and a story with Pedro Pascal for Vanity Fair US. A very special person to collaborate with. What a pleasure!” However, when it comes to upcoming ventures, Sølve prefers to remain open to the next opportunity, adopting a stance that echoes his progressive sensibilities, and this approach also seems fitting when considering Pirelli’s legacy and future. “Who knows what the future brings. My aspiration is to live in the moment.”
The Pirelli Calendar has recognised that it must adapt to societal, cultural, and creative codes to continue producing art that innovates and acts as a platform for social commentary, inclusivity, and reframing beauty ideals. Its ability to shift with and mirror the times is reflected artfully through its latest edition and choice of subjects. Pirelli’s approach, combined with Solve's aptitude for leveraging technology to impactful effect, results in a pairing of inspired brilliance. Together, they have created an impeccable, definitive work that skillfully navigates and charts our times, asking us to look to the future with a new perspective. The 2026 Calendar is a testament to Sølve and Pirelli's innovative mastery. For 2026, they have come together seamlessly to celebrate extraordinary female talent, and the result highlights the enduring artistry of both in the realm of reinvention: two legends, one stunning celebration of female beauty, identity and achievement to hail in the coming year. Inspirational and most definitely - iconic.
This Industry Voice piece is part of The Cinema Issue 15. Purchase your copy here.
