Conversation avec Melissa Auf der Maur Et Sophie Hackett

On this occasion, Melissa Auf der Maur will be in conversation with Sophie Hackett, curator of photography at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), to look back on her experience at the heart of the 1990s alternative rock scene, the memories that marked her career and the stories behind her photographs.

With Melissa Auf der Maur

Born in Montreal, Melissa Auf der Maur studied photography at Concordia University before becoming bassist for alternative rock bands Hole, in the 90s, then the Smashing Pumpkins. On the road, she continued to take photos, requesting a 35 mm film at each concert venue on her technical rider. This approach gave birth to an archive of over 10 000 images documenting life on stage and away from the crowd. Her autobiography, Even The Good Girls Will Cry, was published in spring 2026 by Da Capo and Grand Central Publishing.

A major exhibition dedicated to her photographs, My '90s Rock Photographs, is on view at the Art Gallery of Ontario since 2 September 2026. It is accompanied by a hardback photobook, co-published by the AGO and DelMonico Books, which brings together more than 200 images from the musician's archives. Melissa Auf der Maur's photographs have notably been published in National Geographic and Spin.

In 2010, she cofounded Basilica Hudson, an independent nonprofit multidisciplinary art and performance center, located in upstate New York, where she lives with her family and her magical cats.

Before becoming the bassist for '90s alternative rock bands Hole and, later, the Smashing Pumpkins, Montreal-born Melissa Auf der Maur studied photography at Concordia University. She maintained her daily practice while on the road, requesting a roll of 35mm film at every venue as part of her rider and resulting in over 10,000 images documenting life onstage and away from the crowds.

Her memoir, Even The Good Girls Will Cry, was released by Da Capo and Grand Central Publishing in spring 2026. My '90s Rock Photographs, a major exhibition of Auf der Maur's photos is on view at the Art Gallery of Ontario from September 2, 2026, and is accompanied by a hardback photobook that includes over 200 images from the musician's archive, co-published by the AGO and DelMonico Books.

Auf der Maur's photographs have been featured in publications including National Geographic and Spin, among others. In 2010 she cofounded the nonprofit multi-disciplinary art and performance center Basilica Hudson, located in upstate New York where she lives with her family and magic cats.