Photo : Françoise Evenou
Queens of the Woods: photo exhibition by Françoise Evenou
"It was when you entrusted me with your stories that the word queen emerged. Queen of the night, queen of the woods, beauty queen. So for a long time I looked for a crown, a symbol of dignity, and when I showed it to you, Melissa, I saw your eyes sparkle. You said to me: 'Come back later, I want to get ready like a queen.'"
Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand (BMD) (Paris 13th)
About
Queens of the Woods is a photographic series born from the encounter of Françoise Evenou with Estrella, Jessica, Melissa… They left their countries, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, to live freely in the land of Human Rights. 5, 10, 20 years later, we find them in the Bois de Boulogne, their New World, because they are migrants, transgender, and had no other choice but prostitution.
For 18 months, day and night, Françoise Evenou listened to them, photographed them, recorded them, and was deeply moved by their life stories. Journeys marked by suffering: awareness of their difference, family breakdown, gender transition, migration, exclusion, and violence.
And yet, these women are dignified, beautiful. Proud in their humiliation.
Why do people judge us when they know nothing about us?
a queen of the woods,Françoise Evenou is a photographer and writer of Spanish origin. Her artistic approach articulates images, interviews, sound recordings, and short texts. The questioning of identity and otherness is at the heart of her research. Her series Queens of the Woods, a book of photographs and stories published by Éditions Loco, has been exhibited at the Festival du Regard, the Photo Doc festival, and the Taylor Gallery.
Our take on this event
Deep within the shadows of the woods, a series of intimate portraits reveals the quiet power of migrant transgender women carving out their own space in a foreign land. These images bypass the noise to capture a raw, poignant narrative of identity, survival, and undeniable pride.
The Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand hosts the photography exhibition Les Reines du Bois by artist Françoise Evenou from November 4 to December 5, 2026. This project highlights the lives of migrant transgender women from South America whom the photographer met in the Bois de Boulogne. Through images and personal accounts, the work explores themes of identity, exile, and resilience against exclusion. Entry to the exhibition is free, and the venue is fully accessible to visitors with motor, cognitive, or sensory disabilities, ensuring an inclusive experience for all.
From November 4 to December 5, 2026, the Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand showcases the documentary work of Françoise Evenou. Titled Les Reines du Bois, this series is the result of an 18-month immersion during which the photographer and writer documented the stories of transgender women who migrated from Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. These portraits capture the dignity of those who, faced with migration and systemic exclusion, found refuge in prostitution within the Bois de Boulogne.
The exhibition combines photography, interviews, and short texts to examine questions of identity and otherness. The project reflects on journeys marked by family rupture and violence, while highlighting the strength of these women. The artist, whose work has been featured in several major festivals, offers a sensitive perspective on these life paths.
The exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, 13:00 to 18:00. Admission is free. The venue provides wheelchair access and includes specific adaptations for visitors who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have cognitive disabilities.
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