Interview Paris Photo Director, Florence Bourgeois
Bourgeois joined Paris Photo in 2015, after managing PAD for two years. Bourgeois, a mother of four, studied art history at the Ecole du Louvre and the Sorbonne, and worked in fashion – her previous employers include Inès de la Fressange and LVHM – before pursuing a career in the visual arts. We hear more about her passion for photography, it’s shifting place in the commercial art market, and what she’s excited about at Paris Photo’s upcoming 2024 edition as the fair returns to the spectacular setting of the Grand Palais.
THE WICK: What motivated you to join Paris Photo and what is your vision as director of the fair?
Florence Bourgeois:
My love for art led me to shift my career towards this field after many years spent in major corporations. As director of the fair, my vision is to continue establishing Paris Photo as the leading global fair dedicated to the image. To achieve this, it’s essential to support the various movements that shape it. This includes the significance of historical photography, from its beginnings with iconic galleries like Hans P. Kraus, to contemporary, digital, and moving images. In fact, we opened a digital sector last year. Today, photography is more multifaceted than ever and at the core of contemporary art, and this is the vision I am committed to developing with my teams.
TW: There are several new things to look forward to at Paris Photo this year, from the Voices sector, to the return to the Grand Palais. What are you most excited about for this 2024 edition?
FB: For the 2024 edition of Paris Photo, I’m particularly excited about our return to the Grand Palais, a historic venue that elevates the fair’s prestige and enhances the visitor experience. This year, we’ll have access to the first floor, allowing us to significantly expand the fair. The Emergence sector will grow from 16 to 24 galleries, and we’re adding 10 new publishers to the book sector. We’re also thrilled to welcome Jim Jarmusch, who will curate a unique selection of artworks throughout the fair, creating a personalized path for visitors. He’ll also participate in a conversation as part of our public program. Additionally, I’m excited about the launch of the Voices sector, which highlights critical dialogues in photography today, offering galleries and curators a platform to engage with pressing topics. There will be plenty of new discoveries this year!
TW: How do you see Paris Photo’s role in the wider photography scene and market, where photography still sells on average for far less than classical mediums?
FB: Photography is a medium that firmly belongs to the contemporary art market and is achieving record sales, such as the 2022 world record for a print of Man Ray’s Violin d’Ingres, which sold for $12.4 million at Christie’s New York, or the major Robert Frank retrospective that opened at MoMA last month. While median prices make photography more accessible, which is why it’s often easier for first-time buyers to acquire, it also has the unique strength of appealing to a wide variety of audiences. This dual identity is a key asset, especially in today’s fragile market, where we are nonetheless seeing an unprecedented number of photography transactions.
TW: It’s also a key moment in Paris to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Surrealism: how will you mark this at Paris Photo this year?
FB:
At Paris Photo this year, we are commemorating the 100-year anniversary of Surrealism with a special emphasis on the movement’s profound influence on photography. A key highlight is a curated thematic journey by renowned filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, exploring how Surrealist ideas have shaped the visual language of photography, both historically and in contemporary practices. Visitors will also encounter works reflecting Surrealist themes across different regions, from the United States to Latin America.
A notable example is an exclusive portfolio by Manuel Álvarez Bravo, featuring a series created in 1938-39 at the request of André Breton, presented by the RGR Gallery from Mexico. Additionally, Paris Photo will coincide with the theatrical release of Return to Reason, a compilation of four restored films by Man Ray, with original music composed by Jim Jarmusch and his band SQÜRL. This celebration extends beyond the fair itself, with the major Surrealism exhibition at the Centre Pompidou and other related events happening throughout Paris, making the city a focal point for honoring the legacy of Surrealism.
“Today, photography is more multifaceted than ever and at the core of contemporary art, and this is the vision I am committed to developing with my teams.”
