Cette page existe aussi en français. Voir en français

Esta página también está disponible en español. Ver en español

Back
Lucky Jim: James Barnor

Photo : James Barnor

Nov 12–21Free

Lucky Jim: James Barnor

Seven years after James Barnor's last exhibition at the gallery, the 97-year-old photographer continues to surprise us.

Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière (Paris 4th)

Book

About

This new chapter from his archive presents a set of previously unpublished prints, focusing on the question of the self-portrait and his own staging. His journey, from pre-independence Ghana to the United Kingdom and back, is punctuated by images that have become iconic. In the classic studio shots of the 1950s, one could already feel the photographer's personality and mischief. The proximity and ease of the press images from independence in 1957, and then those tinged with 1960s fashion, hinted at his engaging personality. The photographs of the diaspora in Great Britain are witnesses to great moments of friendship that the photographer experienced, meetings that changed his life. Finally, upon his return to Ghana in the early 1970s, he excelled in staging, whether posing an assistant with chemical development canisters instead of a color chart, or the series used to illustrate the Agip calendar in 1974.

In this exhibition, we find James Barnor in the images that witness his life: a young father standing tall posing with his first son in a christening gown in the courtyard of his studio in Ghana; him again, wearing his kente in front of an 'England' road sign, captured by his great friend Dennis Kemp; him already, in the 1950s, in a striped suit, capturing an event. More than just winks, these images seem to be the soul of the archive, unearthed today in the light of his life.

The James Barnor archive, which was classified and registered with James Barnor at the gallery between 2017 and 2021, has in recent years been the subject of numerous studies, research projects, and exhibitions, which have enabled his work to be recognized by the general public.

It is a great joy to present an unpublished section alongside him. On October 22, the exhibition Le temps des récoltes, by Ibrahim Mahama, will open at the Fondation Cartier. The links between James Barnor and Ibrahim Mahama are manifold: Ghana of course, but also the awareness of the importance of the archive, of recording, and the question of the return and participation of young generations in Ghana. Ibrahim Mahama has selected for this presentation in the new Fondation Cartier space several sections of the photographer's work, notably the images from the Agip series, the same images that we exhibited in his art center in Tamale in 2024 during the festival we produced for his 95th birthday, which are still visible there. This event will mark James Barnor's return to Paris; a meeting program will be announced later.

Our take on this event

Discover a deeply personal side of photographer James Barnor through this curated collection of rare, intimate prints. Spanning his transformative years in Ghana and London, these self-portraits and behind-the-scenes moments reveal the wit and soulful artistry of a visual storyteller who redefined his own narrative.

The Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière presents Lucky Jim, an exhibition showcasing unseen photographs by James Barnor that focus on self-portraiture and staging. Spanning from pre-independence Ghana to the United Kingdom, the collection reveals the unique perspective of the artist, from his 1950s studio work to his artistic photography of the 1970s. Visitors can explore these rare prints which serve as intimate records of the photographer’s life and friendships. Located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, the exhibition is entirely free of charge, providing an accessible opportunity to engage with a significant body of photographic archives that capture both personal milestones and historical transitions.

Lucky Jim, hosted at the Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière, offers a deep dive into the photographic archives of James Barnor. Running from October 31, 2026, to November 21, 2026, this exhibition focuses on the artist’s ability to direct and frame his own image. The selection includes unpublished prints that follow his journey from 1950s Ghana to his experiences in the British diaspora and his later commercial work, such as the 1974 Agip calendar series. These images highlight his technical skill as well as the deep personal connections that defined his life and work.

The gallery is located at 51, rue Saint-Louis en l'Île and is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 to 19:00. This project draws upon extensive research conducted on the artist’s archives between 2017 and 2021. Admission to the exhibition is free for all visitors. This event coincides with a broader period of recognition for Barnor’s work in Paris, reflecting his enduring influence on photography.

10°C

Weather forecast

Overcast

max +10 °Cmin +08 °C

Book

You might also like

  • The World According to Penn

    From the 1940s to the early 2000s, "The World According to Penn" traces Irving Penn's journey in Gallery 2 through an exceptional collection of photographs from the Pinault Collection.

    Nov 12 – Jan 10Metro Les Halles

  • We saw it, we liked it… the “Penn & Fashion” exhibition at the MEP

    Until January 17, 2027, the Maison européenne de la photographie presents “Penn & Fashion.” The exhibition pays tribute to Irving Penn, who deeply marked the history of fashion photography, notably with his iconic collaboration with “Vogue” magazine.

    Sep 30 – Jan 17Metro Saint-Paul (Le Marais)

  • Jean-François Bauret

    Jean-François Bauret (1932-2014) is one of the best-known French photographers of his generation. He is primarily remembered for his nudes and his advertising work. In his commissioned work as well as his personal research, he employs sparse compositions, showing bodies in a direct way and playing with black and white contrasts. He is particularly noted for a male nude as well as photographs of pregnant women that were considered provocative at the time.

    FreeNov 12 – Jan 3Metro Iéna

  • Tina Barney Exhibition, Early Works

    Zander Galerie Paris is pleased to announce an exhibition dedicated to Tina Barney's early black and white photographs. Rediscovered by the artist while she was delving into her archives during the pandemic, these rarely shown images offer an intimate look at American East Coast society in the late 1970s.

    FreeNov 12 – Dec 18Metro Mabillon

  • 200 LUX EXPO

    Following a first exhibition in 2024, the LUX Network presents for the second time, on the occasion of the Bicentenary of Photography, a collective exhibition bringing together its 33 member photography festivals and fairs.

    FreeNov 12 – Dec 19

  • Pierre et Gilles. Pink for you, pink for me

    Pierre et Gilles celebrate 50 years of artistic collaboration with "Pink for you, pink for me," an exhibition of about twenty portraits created over the last two years. On this occasion, Pierre et Gilles: 50 years of creation is published, a major monograph tracing five decades of work, published by INSIGHT.

    FreeNov 12 – Dec 30Metro Rambuteau

  • Stan Douglas. Parallax

    Since the late 1980s, Stan Douglas has developed an ambitious body of work that questions how history is constructed, represented, and transmitted. Through complex narrative devices, he highlights the mechanisms by which images shape our perception of reality and reveal the social, political, and cultural tensions specific to each era.

    Nov 12 – Jan 10Metro Concorde

  • At the Precise Moment. Serge Najjar

    Galerie Lahumière presents the work of a photographer for the first time, choosing Serge Najjar, whose geometric images, captured in the real world, compose spaces that nevertheless seem almost unreal.

    FreeNov 12 – Dec 19Metro Chemin Vert

  • The City of Paris presents at the Paris Photo 2026 fair!

    The City of Paris, represented by the Department for the Preservation of Photographic Heritage (D3P), has a stand at the Paris Photo international fair for the sixth consecutive year. This year, on the occasion of the bicentenary celebration of the invention of photography, the subject of photographic alterations has been chosen.

    Nov 12–15Metro Champs-Élysées Clemenceau

  • Photo Days 2026

    Since 2020, Photo Days has offered carte blanche to French and international artists for atypical venues, and invites you on a unique photographic route through Paris and its region. For one month, museums, cultural institutions, galleries, foundations, fairs, and festivals join Photo Days to showcase the full range of global photographic production to enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.

    FreeNov 2–30Metro Hôtel de Ville