Elles x Paris Photo

A program dedicated to women photographers, supported by the French Ministry of Culture

Curator Devrim Bayar has been invited to create the Elles × Paris Photo path dedicated to women artists, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture. Since it was created in 2018, Elles x Paris Photo programme has increased the representation of women artists at the fair from 20% to 38%.

Devrim Bayar is currently senior curator of the KANAL – Centre Pompidou, a new museum of modern and contemporary art spanning 35,000 m² in Brussels which is scheduled to open in 2026.

About

Elles × Paris Photo Founded in 2018 in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the Elles × Paris Photo program highlights the creation of women photographers and their role in the history of the image and its current trends. For its 2025 edition, it explores the complex relationship between the figure, often female, and the setting in which it is photographed, sometimes enveloping and sometimes consuming it. These interactions between body and context are never neutral: they reveal plural ways of inhabiting the world, of occupying space, of asserting a presence or, on the contrary, of erasing it.

Through this selection of works, a reflection on visibility, identity, and memory emerges. Some images depict drowsy figures, dreaming or with their eyes closed, suspended between interiority and appearance. They remind us that the photographic image is never unequivocal: it is made up of strata — visible or invisible, material or mental — that are superimposed and replayed with each glance. Because to see is also to project: our desires, our lacks, our memories, and our knowledge are intertwined in the very act of perceiving, constantly redefining what the image gives us to see.

Since 2018, this program has led to a significant increase in the representation of women artists at the Fair from 20% to 39%. Specified on the printed map distributed at the entrance of the Fair and available online, the program offers a specific focus of the Fair to the visitors. It is enriched throughout the year with a series of audiovisual and written interviews released on the Paris Photo website, social networks, and YouTube channel.

Devrim Bayar,
Elles × Paris Photo 2025 Curator

Devrim Bayar works currently as a Senior Curator at KANAL - Centre Pompidou.

Previously she was curator at WIELS Contemporary Art Centre in Brussels, where she curated the exhibitions of Wolfgang Tillmans, R.H. Quaytman, Jacqueline de Jong, Huguette Caland, René Daniëls, Sammy Baloji, Pierre Leguillon, Thomas Bayrle, Daan van Golden, Helena Almeida, among other artists, as well as group shows, such as Something Stronger Than Me* exploring recent developments in collaborative art practices.

Devrim Bayar also co-curated a series of exhibitions Un-Scene featuring emerging artists working in Belgium. Her independent curatorial projects include the multi-disciplinary festival Indiscipline at Palais de Tokyo (2016), the Geneva Biennale — Sculpture Garden (2022) and Poésie contre fin du monde conceived with French artist Ethan Assouline as a sort of experimental community library in Montpellier (2024).

She is an author and editor of numerous publications and exhibitions catalogues, with recent essays on Walter Pfeiffer (Swiss Institute/Pacific, 2025) and Mimosa Echard (Mousse Publishing, 2025).

Devrim Bayar recently initiated the Brussels Ass Book Fair, an independent book fair featuring productions from LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as a music programme dedicated to sound productions by multidisciplinary artists broadcasted on community radio Kiosk.

Exhibitors list

*First participation to the fair

Letizia Battaglia

Letizia Battaglia, Image from Photo Poche n° 182 Laetizia Battaglia photobook, 2025 – Courtesy of Archivio Letizia Battaglia & Actes Sud

Cecilia Mangini

Cecilia Mangini, Lipari Island, Italy, 1952 – Courtesy of the Fondo Fotografico Cecilia Mangini & Admira Milano

Rebecca Topakian

Rebecca Topakian, Image from Dame Gulizar and Other Love Stories photobook, 2024 - Courtesy of the artist & BLOW UP PRESS

Zanele Muholi

Zanele Muholi, Lizwe IV, Bantry Bay Hotel, 2023 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Carole Kvasnevski

Huda Takriti

Huda Takriti, Revisitation. In Three Acts | Act One, 2024 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Crone

Jenny Rova

Jenny Rova, Image from Prove your love photobook, 2024 – Courtesy of the artist & Éditions Images Vevey

Julia Margaret Cameron

Julia Margaret Cameron, La Sainte Famille, 1872, Albumen print - Courtesy of Hans P. Kraus Jr.

Sally Mann

Sally Mann, Nicole with Cat (At Twelve), 1983–1985 - Courtesy of the artist, Gagosian & Jackson Fine Art

Barbara Crane

Barbara Crane, People of the North Portal, Chicago, 1970 - Courtesy of the artist & La Galerie Rouge

Erica Lennard

Erica Lennard, Elizabeth, Californie, 1973 - Courtesy of the artist & La Galerie Rouge

Helena Almeida

Helena Almeida, Eu Estou Aqui | I am Here, 2005 - Courtesy of the artist & Les Filles du Calvaire

Sibylle Bergemann

Sibylle Bergemann, Das Denkmal, Berlin, 1986 - Courtesy of the Estate Sibylle Bergemann, LOOCK & OSTKREUZ

Carmen Winant

Carmen Winant, Image from The Last Safe Abortion photobook, 2024 - Courtesy of the artist, SPBH Editions & MACK

Myriam Boulos

Myriam Boulos, Fawzia, a vegan activist and photographer lives with Deeko and Lucie, a rooster and a hen, Beirut, Lebanon, 2023 - Courtesy of the artist & Magnum Photos

Anna Turbau

Anna Turbau, Emigrante. Rubí, Barcelona, 1982 – Courtesy of the artist & NORDÉS

Sophie Ristelhueber

Sophie Ristelhueber, Pont Allenby #2, 2016 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Poggi, Paris

Stephanie Kiwit

Stephanie Kiwitt, Image from Fortlaufend photobook, 2025 – Courtesy of the artist & Spector Books

Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin, Arrivée de Ruth Orkin à Boston, Los Angeles Times, 4 septembre 1939 from Ruth Orkin, Bike trip, USA, 1939, Textuel, 2023 – Courtesy of Archives Ruth Orkin

Claudia Andujar

Claudia Andujar, Sem título from the series Rua Direita, 1970 - Courtesy of the artist & Vermelho

Alicia D’Amico

Alicia D’Amico, Sin Título [Humanario] from the series Ensayo sobre la locura, 1966 - Courtesy of the artist & Rolf Art

Marie-Laure de Decker

Marie-Laure de Decker, Autoportrait, Paris, 1975 – Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Anne-Laure Buffard & Galerie in camera

Pipa Garner

Pippa Garner, Image from Future Man! (series) photobook, 1987 – Courtesy of the artist, Art Paper Editions & Tim Street-Porter

Dora Maar

Dora Maar, Picasso, 1936 – Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Bruce Silverstein

Donna Trope

Donna Trope, Untitled, 1997 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Carole Lambert

Rosemarie Trockel

Rosemarie Trockel, Untitled (Christopher Street Day N.Y.), 1989 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Crone. Photo: Uwe Walter

Yildiz Moran

Yıldız Moran, Untitled, Bilecik, Turkey, 1957 - Courtesy of the artist & Galeri NEV

Mika Horie

Mika Horie, Fuki XI, 2024 - Courtesy of the artist & Ibasho

Lisette Model

Lisette Model, Valeska Gert, 1945 - Courtesy of Lisette Model Foundation & Julian Sander

Claude Batho

Claude Batho, Le linge mouillé, Paris, 1980 - Courtesy of the artist / MPP, La Galerie Rouge

Lore Stessel

Lore Stessel, ALB #03, 2025 - Courtesy of the artist & Les Filles du Calvaire

Garbiele Strötzer

Gabriele Stötzer, Carmen – Der Schrei, 1983 - Courtesy of the artist, LOOCK & VG Bild-Kunst

Manon Küng

Manon Küng, Image from Ball der Einsamkeiten: 30 Selbstportraits photobook, 1980 – Courtesy of the artist & La Chambre Noire

Liz Johnson Artur

Liz Johnson Artur, Image from I Will Keep You in Good Company photobook, 2025 - Courtesy of the artist, SPBH Editions & MACK

Agnès Varda

Agnès Varda, Nature morte aux tulipes et aux fruits. Vase de Valentine Schlegel, carreau d'Andrée Vilar, c. 1955 - Courtesy of Agnès Varda Estate & Galerie Nathalie Obadia

Yto Barrada

Yto Barrada, Untitled (felt circus flooring, Tangier), 2013 - Courtesy of the artist & Pace Gallery

Helen Chadwick

Helen Chadwick, In the Kitchen (Washing Machine), 1977 – Courtesy of the Estate of Helen Chadwick & Galerie Richard Saltoun

Susan Meiselas

Susan Meiselas, Image from 44 Irving Street photobook, 2025 - Courtesy of the artist & TBW Books / Higher Pictures

Gauri Gill

Gauri Gill, Untitled (5) from the series The Village on the Highway, 2021 – Courtesy of the artist & Vadehra Art

Sara Facio

Sara Facio, Sin Título from the series Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 1961 - Courtesy of the artist & Rolf Art

Donna Gottschalk

Donna Gottschalk, Autoportrait avec JEB, E. 9th Street, New York, 1970. From We Others, Donna Gottschalk, Hélène Giannecchini (Atelier EXB / LE BAL) – Courtesy of the artist & Marcelle Alix, Paris

Arlene Gottfried

Arlene Gottfried, Untitled, Midnight, 1985 – Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Bene Taschen

Hélène Amouzou

Hélène Amouzou, Autoportrait, Molenbeek, 2008 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Carole Kvasnevski

Christine Furuya-Gössler

Christine Furuya-Gössler, Image from Photographs (1978–1985) photobook, 2025 - Courtesy of the artist, Chose Commune & Seiichi Furuya

Boosty Holler

Bootsy Holler, Image from Green room at Tramps, NYC photobook, 1997 - Courtesy of the artist & Damiani Books

Mia Weiner

Mia Weiner, Together, in one breath, 2025 - Courtesy of the artist & Homecoming

Marisa Gonzalez

Marisa González, En la cárcel. La descarga. Violencia mujer, 1975–1977 - Courtesy of the artist & Isabel Hurley

Satomi Nihongi

Satomi Nihongi, Image from 70s Tokyo TRANSGENDER photobook, 2021 - Courtesy of the artist, KOMIYAMA TOKYO & Satomi Nihongi

Sabiha Cimen

Sabiha Çimen, Female Bather Relaxing Near the Oranges in the Water Basin at the Cağaloğlu Hamam. March, 2020, Istanbul, Turkey, 2020 - Courtesy of the artist, LOOCK & Magnum Photos

Ming Smith

Ming Smith, Amen Corner Sisters, 1977 - Courtesy of the artist & M77

Eve Arnold

Eve Arnold, Havana, Cuba, 1954 - Courtesy of the artist & Magnum Photos

Martha Rosler

Martha Rosler, Untitled, Frankfurt (Main) from the series In the Place of the Public: Airport Series, 1993 – ongoing, 2004 - Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Nagel Draxler

Mao Ishikawa

Mao Ishikawa, from Life in Philly, 1986 - Courtesy of the artist & POETIC SCAPE

Pilar Aymerich

Pilar Aymerich, Manifestación por la despenalización del adulterio delante de los juzgados de Barcelona (Demonstration for the decriminalization of adultery in front of the Barcelona courts), 1976 / 1978 - Courtesy of the artist & RocioSantaCruz

Ishiuchi Miyako

Ishiuchi Miyako, ひろしま / hiroshima #106 donor:Hashimoto, H., 2016 - Courtesy of the artist & The Third Gallery Aya

Julieta Tarraubella

Julieta Tarraubella, The Secret Life of Flowers, #10 Lisianthus-Liliums, 2022 - Courtesy of the artist, Rolf Art & TOMAS REDRADO ART

Susan Weil

Susan Weil & Robert Rauschenberg, Laid Out Body from Blueprint Portfolio, c. 1950 - Courtesy of the artists & STANLEY/BARKER

Commissaires des éditions précédentes

2024: Raphaëlle Stopin, Director of the Centre Photographique Rouen Normandie

2023: Fiona Rogers, Curator of the Parasol Foundation Women in Photography at the Victoria & Albert Museum

2022: Federica Chiocchetti, Director of the Musée des Beaux-Arts Le Locle (MBAL)

2021: Nathalie Hershdorfer, Director of the Musée de l’Elysée

2019: Karolina Ziebinska-Lewandowska, Curator at the Centre Pompidou

2018: Fannie Escoulen, Head of the Photography Department at the Ministry of Culture

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