Picture perfect: 20 years of Paris Photo
As the fair enters its second decade, artists, collectors and curators gather at the Grand Palais to explore the diversity of photography
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful




What started as an exhibition dedicated to the exploration of photography in all its forms has grown to become one of the largest showcases of the artistic medium in Europe. As it enters its 20th year, Paris Photo will bring together 153 galleries within the Grand Palais, alongside a diverse programme of exhibitions.
The lead attraction is Prismes, a display of large-format and installation works, including specially commissioned pieces. Following its debut last year, it has expanded into a larger space and will show images from 14 artists, including William Klein, famed for his fashion and street photography dating back to the mid-20th century.
The event will also celebrate another anniversary – ten years of photography acquisitions by the Centre Pompidou, which now houses a collection of more than 40,000 prints – with a curated selection of pieces from 40 artists. Focusing on contemporary photography, particularly from the 1920s and 1930s, The Pencil of Culture features works from the visionaries of their time, such as Man Ray, Richard Avedon and Constantin Brancusi.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Beyond what's hanging on the walls, the exhibition will host a series of conversations exploring photography and placing it in a wider context. Topics include its connection with cinema, with a debate led by Matthieu Orlean of La Cinematheque Francaise, and its role in the collections of modern museums.
Paris Photo is at the Grand Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008, Paris, from 10 to 13 November, tickets from €30 (£26.70); parisphoto.com
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com