Unveiling the artistry of Barbara Crane

The Centre Pompidou in Paris presents the first major European retrospective dedicated to renowned photographer Barbara Crane, running from September 11th, 2024, to January 6th, 2025. This exhibition celebrates her remarkable sixty-year career, showcasing her innovative exploration of photographic forms, techniques, and processes.

Crane, a pioneer of experimental and abstract photography, has a rich body of work that includes over 200 pieces, many of which have never been displayed before. The exhibition focuses primarily on the first 25 years of her career, featuring significant series like Human Forms, where she captures the contours of her children as shapes of pure light without revealing their faces. Another highlight, the Neon Series, created during her 1969 visit to Las Vegas, illustrates her fascination with the city’s neon signs, producing striking patterns that she later superimposed onto portraits of individuals outside a department store.

The People of the North Portal series, which includes works like Doors and Heads, delves into American street photography and reflects on the photographer’s role in urban environments. Additional works featured in the exhibition include Beaches and Parks, Whole Roll, Baxter Labs, Loop Series, Chicago Epic, On The Fence, Maricopa County Fair, Objet Trouvé, Repeat, Wipe Outs, and the Monster Series.

Crane’s creative method is marked by a synthesis of American straight photography and experimental techniques influenced by the European avant-garde. Throughout her career, she has embraced a wide range of photographic processes, including platinum-palladium, Polaroid, silver gelatin, and digital techniques, showcasing her technical mastery and innovative spirit. This retrospective not only highlights her artistic achievements but also invites viewers to engage with the evolving narrative of photography over six decades.