This 27th edition of Paris Photo radiated a particularly invigorating energy, thanks to its grand return under the nave of the Grand Palais, which underwent extensive restoration, as well as the vibrancy of its program emphasizing diversity, openness, and intersectionality—spanning sensitivities, practices, eras, and disciplines.
words DAVID HERMAN
An iconic figure with a well-balanced career bridging cinema, music, and all visual arts was honored this year: American independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. In celebration of the centenary of Surrealism, he was given carte blanche to create a curated tour of artworks within the fair. From Dora Maar to Paolo Roversi, from Robert Frank to Araki, he was able, as he mentioned in his talk with insightful critic Philippe Azoury, to highlight the spirit of “freedom” behind Surrealism: a movement that juxtaposed “dream and rationality” on an equal scale, providing a platform for female expression and championing diversity. This journey was accompanied by the theatrical release of Return to Reason, featuring four newly restored films by Man Ray, for which Jim Jarmusch composed the original score with his band SQÜRL.
Gagosian seized this generational crossover by allowing New York photographer Tyler Mitchell to engage his own contemporary work in dialogue with iconic shots by Richard Avedon from the 1960s. This highlighted two visions that blend elegance with cultural and social commitment, offering powerful reflections on race, identity, and society.
Another thematic space that left a lasting impression with its radical freshness was titled Emergence. Designed by Anna Planas, Paris Photo’s artistic director, this sector brought together a demanding selection of ultra-contemporary galleries championing an experimental approach to both practices and exhibition formats. The decision to limit each gallery’s proposal to a single solo show provided a clear reading of its dynamic plurality: from the lively punk fashion energy of Jonathan LLense-Jörg (Brockmann, Carouge), creator of one of the most memorable covers for Collectible Dry, to Camille Vivier’s more cinematic and sculptural approach (Madé), Caroline Corbasson’s cosmic plastic arts practice (Dilecta), and Isabelle Wenzel’s timeless and performative vision (Bart, Amsterdam). An image by this German photographer was also included in the Elles x Paris Photo tour, curated by Raphaëlle Stopin and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Kering’s Women in Motion program, aiming to highlight women in the arts and culture.
In 2023, Paris Photo became the first art fair in Europe to create a Digital sector.
This year, curator Nina Roehrs enriched this section with 15 projects exploring the boundaries of the image. Among them, we noted the atmospheric poetry of Christiane Pescheck (Droste). The Voices sector is also a major addition to this edition, with a selection of international curators examining archival photography.
Curator Elena Navarro, in particular, brought renewed attention to Latin American photography through the emblematic activist work of Brazilian Claudia Anjular.
Among the partners of Paris Photo, two anticipated exhibitions were those of Maison Ruinart and BMW ART MAKERS by BMW France. For its 6th edition, the Maison Ruinart Prize was awarded to photographers Edouard Taufenbach & Bastien Pourtout, a duo that originated from a project at the Villa Medici in 2020. Their exhibition The Chalk Garden revisits the chalk pits through research work blending the mineral and the living, which reinforces the contrast between the primordial nature of this site and our era.
The BMW ART MAKERS program by BMW France named the artist/curator duo Mustapha Azeroual and Marjolaine Lévy to lead a project in innovation in visual arts and its spatial presentation. Their exhibition, The Green Ray, focuses on the effects of sunrise and sunset at sea, translated into abstract tableaux that pay a beautiful homage to kinetic art.
The Editions sector demonstrates the central role of books in the history of photography, which is why Paris Photo allocated 45 exhibitors to it. Of note is the dynamism of a publishing house like RVB Books, bringing together today’s finest contemporary photographers, navigating between art and fashion—from Thomas Lelu to Philippe Jarrigeon and Charles Nègre, who launched his latest book Sidewalk Stills (2024), and from Coco Capitán to Letizia Lefur in a collection in collaboration with Belmond hotels.
