Crowds flocked to Paramount Pictures Studios for 81 exhibitor presentations, public programming, and rarely exhibited images from the LAPD Photo Archives

Art collectors, museum professionals, producers, and celebrities enjoyed the second U.S. edition of the famed Parisian fair for works in the photographic medium

Los Angeles (April 28, 2014)—Paris Photo Los Angeles concluded the second United States edition of the renowned Parisian photography fair on Sunday with excellent sales and strong attendance of art buyers, celebrities, and the public alike. Over 16,000 visitors attended the show set within Paramount Pictures Studios’ iconic soundstages and New York Street Backlot. Works by masters of the photographic medium as well as emerging artists were presented by an international roster of exhibitors, including 81 galleries and art book dealers from 18 countries, featuring a total of 31 solo artist shows.

Julien Frydman, Paris Photo director, said, “Based on the incredible turnout this year, it's clear that Paris Photo Los Angeles has been embraced by the city. We are thrilled with the outcome and the wonderful feedback from our exhibitors, visitors, collectors, and celebrity guests. It is extremely rewarding to see the art world and the movie industry shaping today’s market for works in the photographic medium.”

Prominent museum professionals, collectors, and other art world luminaries who attended Paris Photo Los Angeles included Quentin Bajac, Chief Curator of Photography at The Museum of Modern Art; Stephanie Barron, Senior Curator at Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Dan Cameron, Chief Curator at The Orange County Museum of Art; Joanne Heyler, Director of The Broad museum; Chrissie Iles, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art; Steven D. Lavine, President of CalArts; Roxana Marcoci, Photography Department Senior Curator at The Museum of Modern Art; Ann Philbin, Director of The Hammer Museum; Sandra Phillips, Curator of Photography at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; and, Britt Salvesen, Curator of Photography at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, to name only a few. Collector attendees included Maria Bell, Eli and Edythe Broad, Jan and Trish de Bont, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Danny First, Alan Hergott, Maja Hoffmann, Deborah Irmas, Richard Lovett, Scott Stover, Benedikt and Lauren Taschen, and Michael G. Wilson, among many more.

Other notable Hollywood and international guests who attended the fair and many of whom acquired works from the galleries included Sasha Alexander, Judd Apatow, Maria Bello, Orlando Bloom, Laetitia Casta, Jo Champa, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dana Delaney, Julie Delpy, Lisa Edelstein, Bryan Ferry, Jane Fonda, Selena Gomez, Brad Goreski, Mamie Gummer, Angie Harmon, Jenji Kohan, Will Kopelman, Claude Lelouch (French director/producer), Steven Levitan, Laurence Mark, Joni Mitchell, Moby, Demi Moore, Mandy Moore, Edward Norton, Roger O’Donnell, Frank Ocean, Gary Oldman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, Robert Schiff, Cameron Silver, Joel Silver, Molly Sims, Mena Suvari, Omar Sy, Stefano Tonchi, Alexandra Von Furstenberg, Jesse Williams, Rumer Willis, and many more.

The four-day fair began on Thursday, April 24th with a well-attended private preview, followed by the public opening on Friday, April 25th through Sunday, April 27th. Visitors experienced everything from world- class photography to expertly curated programming to treats from popular Los Angeles food trucks.

The unique setting of Los Angeles and Paramount Pictures Studios provided a stunning backdrop to the fair. Leo Koenig from New York’s Koenig & Clinton Gallery, which sold several Ed Ruscha editions, said, “Los Angeles is on the rise with its influence in the art world, and Paris Photo plays a big part in that. I look forward to coming back.”

Luis De Jesus of his eponymous gallery in Los Angeles added, “This is one of the best fairs we’ve ever done, period. It’s a really enjoyable viewing experience, going from the soundstages to the New York Street Backlot.
We’ve met great collectors and many curators.”

M+B Gallery, Los Angeles, also thrived in the setting of Paramount Pictures Studios, stating: “It’s one of the most enjoyable fairs. It’s certainly a fun experience, playing with the space and architecture of Paramount.”

Many dealers shared positive results: Etherton Gallery sold Danny Lyon prints for over $200,000; Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery’s joint booth with Howard Greenberg Gallery sold several works from Edward Burtynsky’s “Water” series; 303 Gallery sold eight works by Stephen Shore on the fair’s first day alone; Magnin-A reported “enormous interest and good sales”; Gallery Nikolaus Ruzicska had numerous sales of works by Josef Hoflehner from $7,000 to $40,000; Guido Costa Projects sold a photo tapestry by Paul Thorel for $50,000; and Black Ship Gallery sold 37 works by Cristina de Middel, among many other sales by exhibitors.

Dr. Thomas Girst, Head of Cultural Engagement for BMW Group, Paris Photo’s official partner, said, “The success, the boldness, and the sheer beauty of Paris Photo Los Angeles, going strong in its second year, should not come as a surprise for those who know that something already great can become even greater.” BMW showcased the BMW Art Car by David Hockney.