Martin Parr had a way of turning the ordinary into something impossible to ignore. The late British photographer, known for his saturated colours, direct flash and sharp observations of everyday life, brought humour and social commentary to subjects ranging from mass tourism to consumer culture. Now, his Autoportrait series arrives at Saint Laurent Montaigne, in an exhibition curated by Anthony Vaccarello.
On view from October 15, 2026, to January 13, 2027, the exhibition brings together works from a project Parr developed between 1996 and 2015, travelling the world to have his portrait taken by professional photographers, local amateurs and photo booths. Against exotic backdrops and through the conventions of the tourist snapshot, Parr turns the camera on himself, playing with the artifice of travel, identity and the desire to capture a version of ourselves worth remembering.
Including images made in Singapore in 2007 and London in 2008, the selection reflects Parr’s ability to find absurdity in familiar rituals. His self-portraits are less exercises in self-representation than playful observations of how we perform our identities, particularly when away from home.
The exhibition also continues a relationship between Parr and Vaccarello, who previously worked with the photographer on Saint Laurent’s 2025 campaign, An Ordinary Day. With Autoportrait, Saint Laurent Montaigne offers another perspective on an artist whose unfiltered observations of contemporary life remain as incisive as they are entertaining.
Saint Laurent Montaigne, October 15, 2026, to January 13, 2027.