New York — September 18, 2025 — Apple has unveiled the creative power of its new iPhone 17 Pro Max with an immersive exhibition, Joy in 3 Parts, curated by Kathy Ryan, former director of photography at The New York Times Magazine. Bringing together globally acclaimed artists Inez & Vinoodh, Mickalene Thomas, and Trunk Xu, the showcase demonstrates how Apple’s next-gen device blurs the line between professional camera technology and everyday creativity.
Equipped with three advanced 48MP Fusion cameras, along with newly integrated 4x and 8x Telephoto zoom, the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers DSLR-level image quality. The exhibition highlights how this innovation can transform personal expression into art, making professional-grade photography more accessible.
Dutch-American duo Inez & Vinoodh contributed Think LOVE., a five-part installation capturing the intimacy of their son’s love story. Shot in Marfa, Texas, the series draws inspiration from Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, with vivid textures and radiant natural light captured through the iPhone’s HDR capabilities. “The immediacy and intimacy of the iPhone has been a game-changer for us,” Inez van Lamsweerde remarked.
Renowned multimedia artist Mickalene Thomas turned her lens to Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park, portraying leisure and rest among the Black community. Her series, including Black Girl Joy, emphasizes “rest as resistance and radical power,” countering traditional narratives of labor and endurance. Thomas praised the iPhone’s portability, noting its ability to capture fleeting, unposed moments with authenticity.
Meanwhile, Trunk Xu, a Chinese visual storyteller, offered a global perspective, using the iPhone 17 Pro Max to frame expansive, cinematic compositions that explore cultural identity and the beauty of daily life.
The exhibition emphasizes not only the technical leaps of Apple’s newest flagship but also its role in democratizing creativity. For the participating artists, the device becomes less a gadget and more a partner in storytelling.
With Joy in 3 Parts, Apple positions the iPhone 17 Pro Max as more than just a phone — it is a tool of artistic empowerment, allowing both celebrated photographers and everyday users to capture life with clarity, intimacy, and joy.
