Photo : James Barnor / Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain
James Barnor, Style in the Viewfinder
On the occasion of the Ibrahim Mahama exhibition, Harvest Time , the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain and RATP are partnering to present James Barnor, Style in the Viewfinder . Designed for the alcoves of the Galerie Valois, this exhibition unveils a collection of photographs and contact sheets produced during the Ghanaian photographer James Barnor's collaboration with Drum magazine in the 1960s.
Galerie Valois (Paris 1st)
About
Founded in South Africa in 1951, Drum was an essential platform for the emergence of a generation of African journalists committed to the fight against Apartheid. The magazine openly supported Pan-Africanism and saw its influence extend throughout Africa and then internationally.
James Barnor began working sporadically for Drum in 1952, a year before founding his famous Ever Young photographic studio in Accra. Moving to England at the end of the 1950s, he spent the entire 1960s there: he photographed for Drum magazine, worked in a color processing laboratory (CPL), and studied at the Medway College of Art. With a sharp eye for street fashion and a mastery of color, Barnor eloquently captured for Drum the meeting between Swinging London and the daily life of the African diaspora in 1960s London.
His work is particularly distinguished by the place it gives to African women, represented in the diversity of their trajectories and identities. Through the construction of visual narratives, the photographer makes these figures the embodiments of a modern, autonomous, and sophisticated femininity, contrary to the beauty standards then favored by the Western fashion press. The portraits and stories presented in the alcoves of the Galerie Valois convey the effervescence of a key moment in James Barnor's long professional career, constituting both a collective portrait of the diaspora and a new reading of the history of fashion photography.
Our take on this event
Step into the vibrant pulse of the 1960s London scene captured through the master lens of James Barnor. His striking portraits beautifully document the intersection of African diaspora identity and high-fashion aesthetics. Discover a stunning series that reclaims visual narratives and celebrates the sophisticated modernity of the women behind the portraits.
Galerie Valois presents an extensive exhibition dedicated to the work of photographer James Barnor, a key contributor to Drum magazine and a chronicler of the 1950s and 1960s. Running from November 11, 2026, to March 31, 2027, the display showcases how Barnor captured both the panafricanist movement in Africa and the vibrancy of the African diaspora in London. By focusing on portraits of independent women and street fashion, the artist challenges the conventional beauty standards of the era. This cultural experience is free to attend, offering a unique opportunity to explore these historical images in the heart of Paris's 1st arrondissement.
James Barnor, Le Style dans le viseur highlights the evolution of a photographer who bridged cultures and eras. From his early assignments for Drum magazine in 1952 to his formative years in London, Barnor refined an eye for color and street style that defined his career. His work serves as both a collective portrait of the diaspora and a transformative exploration of fashion photography, moving away from Western editorial norms to celebrate modern, sophisticated African women.
Located at Galerie Valois, the exhibition is open from November 11, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Attendance is free for all visitors, with no booking required. Guests are welcome to visit Tuesday through Thursday, as well as Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 to 19:00. For those looking for an evening visit, the gallery remains open until 22:00 every Friday.
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