La Galerie Rouge in Paris is paying tribute to photography pioneer Agathe Gaillard with a special exhibition running until September 27, 2025. The gallery, formerly known as the Agathe Gaillard gallery, is honoring the legacy of the woman who opened France's first gallery dedicated exclusively to photography exactly 50 years ago.
On June 10, 1975, Agathe Gaillard made history by opening her groundbreaking photography gallery in Paris with the support of her husband Jean-Philippe Charbonnier and her photographer friends. Her pioneering venture marked a significant milestone in the art world, establishing photography as a legitimate artistic medium worthy of gallery representation. Through her passion for photography, impeccable taste, and unwavering support for photographers, Gaillard worked tirelessly to gain greater artistic recognition for the medium.
Gaillard transformed the address at 3 rue du Pont Louis-Philippe into a legendary destination for photography enthusiasts worldwide. Known for her strong and uncompromising personality, she remained deeply loyal to the photographers she discovered and supported throughout her career. Her influence extended far beyond the gallery walls, inspiring artists, collectors, and the general public to develop a passion for photography.
The tribute exhibition features a carefully curated selection of prints from the many photographers Gaillard championed during her illustrious career. Visitors can view works by renowned photographers including Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Claude Batho, Édouard Boubat, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Jean-Philippe Charbonnier, Luc Choquer, Robert Doisneau, Sandra Eleta, Jean-Pierre Évrard, Louis Faurer, Ralph Gibson, André Kertész, Erica Lennard, Marie-Paule Nègre, and Colette Urbajtel.
The exhibition includes excerpts from Gaillard's memoir, "Agathe Gaillard, Mémoires d'une Galerie," published by Gallimard in Paris in 2013. In reflecting on her gallery's opening day, she wrote: "I don't know if all the joyful guests on that June 10th, 1975, believed as much as I did in the future of this company, but at that moment they were happy. They had something in common: they truly loved Photography."
The "Hommage Agathe Gaillard" exhibition runs from September 18-27, 2025, at La Galerie Rouge, located at 3 rue du Pont Louis-Philippe in Paris's 4th arrondissement. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and visitors can contact the gallery at 01 42 77 38 24 or visit www.lagalerierouge.paris for more information. The tribute serves as a fitting remembrance of Gaillard's enduring impact on photography and her role in elevating the medium to new heights of artistic recognition.
