Written By: Khansaa Houlbi
From cheesy photo booths to painted studio backdrops, the late British photographer swaps places with his subjects in a delightfully kitsch tribute at 37 Avenue Montaigne.
A new exhibition at Saint Laurent Montaigne in Paris is turning the spotlight onto what happens when one of photography’s sharpest observers becomes the subject. Running through January 13, 2027, Autoportrait brings together a playful collection of self-portraits that flip the script on how we look at portraiture.
© MARTIN PARR / MAGNUM PHOTOS. COURTESY OF GALERIE CLÉMENTINE DE LA FÉRONNIÈRE
The show honors Martin Parr, who passed away in December 2025 at age 73. Over several decades, the celebrated British photographer built an iconic career capturing the awkward, funny realities of everyday life, using punchy, saturated colors and harsh flash to document everything from crowded seaside resorts to consumer culture.
Curated by Anthony Vaccarello, who recently made waves by announcing his departure as Saint Laurent’s creative director (news the industry is still processing), the exhibition builds on a natural creative partnership. Parr and Vaccarello previously teamed up on the French house’s Pre-Fall/Summer 2025 campaign, aptly named An Ordinary Day.
Instead of framing the shots himself, Parr handed the camera over to commercial portrait studios, street photographers, and automated booths during his travels between 1996 and 2015. On view with shots from places like Singapore and London, the resulting images poke fun at classic vacation photos. Parr leans into the cheese factor, posing in goofy costumes, standing in front of fake backdrops, and willingly enduring heavy-handed airbrushing.
© MARTIN PARR / MAGNUM PHOTOS. COURTESY OF GALERIE CLÉMENTINE DE LA FÉRONNIÈRE
© MARTIN PARR / MAGNUM PHOTOS. COURTESY OF GALERIE CLÉMENTINE DE LA FÉRONNIÈRE
Born in 1952, Parr studied at Manchester Polytechnic before rising to become one of documentary photography’s most influential figures. Along the way, he served as president of Magnum Photos and launched the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol to support upcoming documentary talent.
Autoportrait runs through January 13, 2027, at Saint Laurent Montaigne.
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