The Oana Ivan Gallery in Paris is currently presenting a comprehensive exhibition featuring the work of renowned photographer Gilles Bensimon, running until October 4, 2025. The exhibition brings together approximately fifty works spanning thirty-five years of the artist's career, from 1986 to 2021, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of his groundbreaking approach to photographing women.
Bensimon has distinguished himself as a photographer who works not just of women, but specifically for women, fundamentally transforming how the female form is captured and presented in photography. His revolutionary approach liberated the image of the female body without ever reducing it to a mere object of desire. Instead, his photographs celebrate strong, independent, and radiant female figures, capturing them in their full intensity and complexity.
The photographer's methodology represents a profound reinvention of women's portraiture in contemporary photography. Rather than presenting women as fixed icons or simple muses, Bensimon positions them as active partners in his creative vision. This collaborative approach has resulted in images that serve as an ode to allure, intimacy, and the fleeting nature of captured moments.
"Women have given me everything," Bensimon reflects on his career and inspiration. His philosophy centers on the belief that a portrait must function as a discovery, retaining elements of mystery and maintaining what he describes as "a dark side." This approach ensures that his subjects remain complex and multifaceted rather than simplified representations.
The photographer's artistic ambition extends beyond mere documentation, aiming to create photographs that achieve timelessness while simultaneously capturing something essential about the specific moment in which they were taken. This dual focus on the eternal and the temporal reflects his commitment to creating work that resonates across different eras while remaining grounded in authentic experience.
Despite his decades of success and recognition, Bensimon maintains a relentless pursuit of perfection driven by what he describes as perpetual dissatisfaction. "I am never entirely satisfied with my photos," he admits, suggesting that this ongoing sense of incompleteness fuels his continued creativity and drives him to constantly push boundaries and explore new possibilities in his work.
This artistic restlessness manifests in his philosophy toward his body of work and future projects. When asked to identify his favorite photograph from his extensive portfolio, Bensimon's response reveals his forward-looking perspective: "It's the one I'll make tomorrow." This statement encapsulates his belief that his best work always lies ahead, maintaining the creative momentum that has sustained his career.
The exhibition is housed at the Oana Ivan Gallery, located at 93 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris's 8th arrondissement. Art enthusiasts and photography lovers can visit the gallery to experience Bensimon's work firsthand, with additional information available through the gallery's website at www.galleryoanaivan.com. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to view the evolution of one of contemporary photography's most influential voices in women's portraiture.
