Martin Parr at Saint Laurent: the free photo exhibition where self-deprecating humor takes center stage

Having spent years documenting the little foibles of others, it’s only fair his turn has come! Martin Parr, famous for his sharp eye on our habits and leisure, is this time in the crosshairs. Saint Laurent Montaigne, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, devotes to him a free photo exhibition, entitled Autoportrait, whose selection is curated by Anthony Vaccarello. No room for posing as the pretty-boy in front of the camera: here, the British photographer prefers to poke fun at himself.

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Between 1996 and 2015, Parr enjoyed having his portrait taken at will during his travels, by professionals, local enthusiasts, or even simple photo booths. Improbable disguises, exotic backdrops, unflinching retouching... it all makes the cut! Through these images, notably captured in Singapore in 2007 and London in 2008, he subverts the conventions of the souvenir photo, with a humor that is both understated and biting.

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A project that fits Martin Parr's signature to a T: saturated colors, tight framing, a taste for incongruous details, and a keen sense of the humor in the ordinary. The man who spent his career spotlighting our vacations, our leisure, and our consumer obsessions now turns the lens on himself. And clearly, he didn’t aim for his best side.

Having already been in cahoots with Saint Laurent for the An Ordinary Day campaign in 2025, the photographer—who died in December of the same year—left behind a body of work that will keep reflecting our image back at us.