Martin Parr: In Plain View at Magnum Gallery

Martin Parr: In Plain View, on display from March 28 to June 6, 2026 at the new Magnum Gallery and Bookshop in Paris, is a tribute to Martin Parr’s exceptional career, his transformative influence on modern photography, and his enduring impact as a member and former president of Magnum Photos.

Parr, who sadly passed away on December 6, 2025, is remembered through a curation of prints and archives that illustrates the depth of his groundbreaking observation of society.

After a VIP launch on March 25, organized in partnership with Veuve Clicquot et Les Niçois, the exhibition opened its doors the public, unveiling dozens of images, archived material and interactive experiences allowing visitors to step inside a Parr photograph. Tracing the evolution of Parr’s work, Martin Parr: In Plain View begins with his early black-and-white photographs from the 1970s; portraits of close-knit communities in northern England and Ireland, rooted in a quiet humanism.

Also showcased are some of his most influential projects in color from the 1990s and early 2000s, such as his saturated, candid take on consumer culture in Common Sense, and a comical, eccentric investigation of English identity in Think of England.

The intimate curation reflects on Parr’s distinctive approach to capturing everyday oddities and cultural nuances across his varied subjects, from beaches to fashion, tourism to cups of tea. His attraction to contrasts, irony and idiosyncratic forms of leisure has informed the collective imagination of British life, transforming the mundane into moments of cultural consequence.

Martin Parr: In Plain View also presents exclusive images from Parr’s life at Magnum, alongside texts and correspondences throughout his career, illustrating that Parr was not only a leading figure in photography but a beloved, forward-looking member of the Magnum community.

“Martin stretched the definition of documentary inside the agency. By doing so, he opened the door to a new generation of photographers,” says Marine Merindol, Chief Operational Officer at Magnum. “I’m not sure Magnum would be what it is today without him,” she adds

Having first joined Magnum as an associate in 1988, the Epsom-born photographer was a full member of the cooperative for over 30 years and had served as the agency’s president from 2013 to 2017. “His humor, his clarity, and his vision shaped many discussions across the agency and within the wider photographic world,” said Magnum co-president, Lorenzo Meloni.

“He is known as a photographer, a photographer loved by the public – one hears one say – ‘it’s a Martin Parr.’ No other photographer — certainly not in my lifetime — has ever had that distinction,” said Magnum photographer David Hurn.

Clémence Vichard-Larroque, Senior Gallery Manager, notes that it feels “especially meaningful” to inaugurate the new Paris gallery space with a celebration of Parr’s decades-long career. “This exhibition pays homage to the unique vision of Martin Parr, whose sharp eye for contemporary society and prominent role within Magnum Photos have left an enduring mark on photography. His influence resonates across generations, inspiring other photographers and captivating both amateurs and connoisseurs,” she says.

Not long before his passing, in an interview with Framelines, Parr said, “One of the things I’ve got is this amazing archive of 50 years of me photographing in the UK, so that’s going to be an important part of the legacy […] even when I’m dead. It’ll live on. Pictures live on.”

The exhibition runs from March 28 to June 6, coinciding with the Martin Parr exhibition Global Warning at the Jeu de Paume in Paris. All prints are available to acquire, as well as a selection of photobooks and merchandise.

Martin Parr: In Plain View
Public launch: Saturday, March 28 from 3 pm–5 pm
On view until June 6, 2026.

Hours
Tuesday-Friday: 10 am–7 pm
Saturday: 11 am–7 pm

Location
2 Impasse Delaunay 75011 Paris

Contact
gallery@magnumphotos.com
+33 (0)1 53 42 50 07