November seems to mark an exciting time of the year for photographers and photography enthusiasts. Why? Paris Photo, an international photo fair, is back with its 27th edition. The event is known to bring together hundreds of photographers, who are some of the biggest names in the art world today. The diverse works will also be available for purchase to enthusiasts and collectors, ensuring that the discourse around the medium never stops.
The lead image is a screenshot of Paris Photo’s Instagram page.
The Paris Photo event has been divided into several sections. The main section features 139 exhibitors, including popular names from the past and contemporary photography. For instance, Josef Sudek, Martin Parr, Rinko Kawauchi, Dora Mar, Man Ray, Sally Mann, Clarissa Bonet, and Kenneth Josephson. The Emergence section, which is a new inclusion, will focus on 23 projects from new artists. There are more sections, including Book, Digital, and Prisms. The last one will host works of significant photographs, including August Sander’s People of the 20th Century and Anton Kusters’ The Blue Skies Project. This will also be the first complete European viewing of Sander’s 600 prints.
Signature is another section where over 400 artists will be present to sign their books. Paris Photo is also hosting the first exhibition devoted to children’s photobooks. The project will later travel until 2027. Voice is another new series specifically designed to cater to VIPs and sponsors in the art world. The aim of this section is to showcase the works of contemporary photographers and continue to propel the medium forward.
Elles × Paris Photo is another initiative that will honor four grants to galleries that feature women artists. Through this project the event aims to highlight the work of renowned women photographers of the past, as well as contemporary names that are carrying forward their legacies.
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No festival is complete without talks, so Paris Photo also has a section called Conversations, which features talks throughout its duration. Some of the themes include identity, technology, the place of photography in the 21st century, a tribute to Robert Frank, and the emergence of experimental photography. Overall, 147 galleries, 180 museum groups, and hundreds of photographers and publishers will attend Paris Photo.
This is one of those photography fairs that continue to make waves throughout the industry. Not only does one get a glimpse into the present photography scene, but they also get a chance to look at the past. Furthermore, this is a hub for emerging artists to mingle with not just established photographers but also curators, gallery owners, sponsors, and publishers. Sure, you get a chance to look at historic and new work, but you also have the opportunity to showcase your work and network. If you have a zine, then you can certainly share it, which one can look at later.
Paris Photo certainly brings an exciting opportunity, but a large part of it also involves understanding whom to approach and how. So, if you plan on visiting, please be certain to not barge in and feel all too entitled to disturb an ongoing conversation or show. Take your time. If you don’t get a chance to talk, then perhaps look them up and shoot an email. There is always a tomorrow, so be humble and mindful. There will be many like you making pitches, and that can be quite overwhelming. So, don’t lose faith. You will get your chance to shine.
The event is from November 7 to November 10 and will take place at the Grand Palais. For more information, visit Paris Photo’s website.
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