The Oana Ivan Gallery is presenting a comprehensive exhibition of renowned photographer Gilles Bensimon's work through October 4, 2025. The showcase features approximately fifty works created between 1986 and 2021, highlighting the artist's revolutionary approach to photographing women.
Bensimon, who describes himself as a photographer of women but especially for women, has fundamentally transformed the visual representation of the female body without ever reducing it to an object. His work celebrates strong, independent, and radiant figures, capturing them in their full intensity and authentic presence. Through his lens, he has profoundly reinvented the way women are photographed in art and fashion.
The photographer's innovative vision presents women neither as frozen icons nor simple muses, but as partners in a creative vision. His body of work serves as an ode to style, intimacy, and the fleeting moment. "It's the women who have given me everything," Bensimon explains, reflecting on his artistic journey and the inspiration he draws from his subjects.
For Bensimon, a portrait must be a discovery that retains an element of mystery and shadow. His artistic ambition is to create "photos that are timeless, but that also say something about the moment." This quest drives him with relentless standards, often tinged with self-doubt as he admits, "I am never entirely satisfied with my photos."
This perpetual dissatisfaction may be what pushes him to constantly go further, to continue photographing, and to never stop exploring new possibilities. When asked about his favorite photograph, Bensimon responds with characteristic forward-looking optimism: "It's the one I will take tomorrow." This philosophy embodies his ongoing commitment to artistic growth and innovation.
The exhibition runs until October 4, 2025, at Galerie Oana Ivan, located at 93 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Additional information is available at www.galleryoanaivan.com.
