Paris Photo: insights on the most anticipated photography fair

Paris Photo Fair is back from November 7 and returns to the iconic Grand Palais

For its 27th edition, Paris Photo will return to the Grand Palais from November 7 to 10, 2024. The event will feature a dynamic program that showcases the diversity and vibrancy of both historic and contemporary photography. This prestigious photography fair, directed by Florence Bourgeois, will showcase an impressive 236 exhibitors, comprising 191 galleries and 45 publishers from 33 countries, including 64 first-time participants. This year's event aims to expand the horizons of the photographic medium, presenting a diverse array of artistic projects across its various sectors, from historical works to innovative digital art. Additionally, the fair will feature a special showcase that highlights the Lithuanian photography scene, in collaboration with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) and the Centre Pompidou.

The return to the Grand Palais marks a new layout for Paris Photo. This year, displays on the first floor will allow visitors to look down on large sections of the Main sector, which occupies the iconic ground-floor nave. Eight stairways and elevators will grant access to the upper level, where the Éditions publisher section, a new educational program, talks, and the fair’s collection exhibition will be located. Notably, the revamped Émergence section – formerly known as Curiosa – has expanded from 16 to 23 projects.

Der Greif community artists showing at Paris Photo

The main appointment for photography nowadays will see many artists from the Der Greif community showcasing their works. Kincső Bede will participate, represented by TOBE Gallery. Fabio Barile will be shown by Matèria Gallery with works from his project “Works for a Cosmic Feeling”: a monochrome journey through decadence, complexity and beauty. Bérangère Fromont’s graphic and cinematic images will also be on show, while Diane Meyer presents her “Berlin” series at the Émergence section – curated by Anna Planas. Émergence also features Sjoerd Knibbeler and Jonathan Llense: a new generation of artists in documentary photography. Gloria Oyarzabal, whose work speaks of the effects and consequences of colonization and neo-colonization, is being shown by RocioSantaCruz Gallery. “Disintegrata” by Silvia Rosi will be shown at Ncontemporary booth bringing together a series of works first exhibited at Fondazione Maramotti (Reggio Emilia, Italy) in the past months. Last but not least, Fabienne Levy gallery will spotlight Alina Marie Frieske, whose technique stemming at the intersection between photography and painting conceptualizes contemporary identities and technology.

Azu Nwagbogu co-curates the Voices sector with Sonia Voss and Elena Navarro

The newly introduced Voices sector is dedicated to inviting the discerning eyes of international art key leaders. This first edition will be hosted by 3 curators: Azu Nwagbogu, Founder and Director of LagosPhoto Festival, Independent Curator and recently Curator of the Benin Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, with whom we teamed up for a special Guest Room in 2017; Sonia Voss, author and curator of numerous exhibitions focused on photographic scenes that emerged behind the Iron Curtain, particularly East German and 1970s Lithuanian photography; and Elena Navarro, independent curator, who founded the international photography festival, FotoMéxico.