Photo London returns to Somerset House for its ninth edition, bringing together more than 120 exhibitors from around the globe presenting a dazzling array of images from the dawn of the medium to groundbreaking contemporary experiments. Once again, the Fair gives visitors an exciting showcase for the best of the past, present and future of photography.

This year’s Fair presents over 400 photographers from more than 30 countries. Works on display range from the personal to the political; from social documentary to the glamour of fashion, music and travel imagery; and from the everyday poetic through to constructed images that explore photography’s complicated reflection of the human psyche in our post-truth era.

 

Highlights at Photo London 2024 Fair include:

Significant solo presentations by women photographers past and present, including 20th-century greats Helen Levitt, whose rare unseen colour photography is on show, and Lee Miller, in addition to contemporary luminaries such as Lydia Goldblatt, Jacquie Maria Wessels and Siân Davey;

Looking to the future, Charlotte Jansen curates the Discovery section and introduces positions — a new direction for Photo London, through which participation of unrepresented artists is supported by collectors and patrons. In its inaugural year, positions features five artists who interrogate and explore beauty;

The worldwide scope of the Fair is underlined by a regional focus on Turkey, with eight galleries — DIRIMART, Galeri Nev Ankara, Galeri Nev Istanbul, GALERİST, Martch Art Project, SANATORIUM, Versus Art Project and Vision Art Platform — supported by TurkishBank UK;

Meanwhile, the United States is back at Photo London in force, with 10 galleries from New York alone — including exciting young galleries such as Cierra Britton Gallery, who focus exclusively on work by women who are black, indigenous and people of colour, or Roya Khadjavi Projects / Nemazee Fine Art, who champion the work of young Iranian artists;

Iconic fashion photography on show includes work by Steven Meisel and Max Vadukul at Ira Stehmann Fine Art, Sarah Moon, exhibited by Persiehl & Heine and Peter Fetterman Gallery, and Patrick Demarchelier at ATLAS Gallery;

The exceptional French photographer Valérie Belin, who has done so much to shape the medium, is Photo London Master of Photography 2024. She presents Silent Stories, showcasing more than three decades of her work;

The Fair’s celebration of French photography continues into the past with The Magic Art of French Calotype. Paper Negative Photography 1846 – 1860, an exhibition curated by Robert Hershkowitz, who for the first time presents the beauty of these works to an audience in the UK;

The history of the medium is further explored by Robert Hershkowitz Ltd’s show of British pioneers, including Lewis Carroll, Julia Margaret Cameron and William Henry Fox Talbot. Early fashion-portrait photography is presented by ROLAND BELGRAVE;

Then, guiding viewers into the future, the Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award returns with an exhibition of its 2023 shortlist and an opportunity to view 2024’s artists;

 

Photo London Director Kamiar Maleki highlights the important role Partners and collectors are playing in this year’s Fair:

“We are particularly thrilled that each of our Partners has enriched the Fair through their determination to engage with artists in a variety of highly creative ways. Several important collectors have also been willing to back emerging and experimental talents in Discovery and elsewhere. TurkishBank UK’s support for our Turkish galleries; Belmond’s support for contemporary photography and Pictet’s commitment to photography have all played an important part in creating the Fair’s unique DNA. Not only this, but each of them has worked hard to engage their networks and bring an important group of collectors to this year’s Fair. It is my mission to make more contemporary art collectors into lens-based collectors and broaden the scope seen at the fair, therefore don’t be surprised to see some sculptural photography, AI and other art forms. At Photo London, we embrace the breadth and diversity of photography, delving into new realms of creativity and innovation as we celebrate the past, present and future of the medium. Our aspiration is to be a fair that is as thought-provoking as it is beautiful, and that is engaging to all.’