Martin Parr's 'Common Sense' Returns at Bristol Photo Festival, 27 Years After Its Debut
The Bristol Photo Festival's Welcome Building will showcase Martin Parr's 'Common Sense' from October 16 to November 15, 2026, with free entry and optional donations. Parr, who passed away at 73 in December after fighting cancer, served as the Artistic Director for the festival's first edition and continued on its Board until 2025. Initially unveiled in 1999, 'Common Sense' humorously critiques everyday consumerism and excess. Parr utilized a 35mm camera to document the contradictions of ordinary life and consumer culture. Notably, this project was groundbreaking in its distribution, released as affordable color Xerox prints, and became the largest simultaneous photography exhibition, displayed in 41 galleries across five continents in April 1999.
Key facts
- 'Common Sense' will be exhibited at Bristol Photo Festival's Welcome Building from October 16 to November 15, 2026
- Admission is free, with donations welcome to support the festival
- Martin Parr died in December at 73 after a multi-year battle with cancer
- Parr was Artistic Director of the inaugural Bristol Photo Festival and remained on its Board until 2025
- 'Common Sense' was first presented in 1999
- The series was originally issued as inexpensive color Xerox prints rather than traditional photographic prints
- In April 1999 the work was shown in 41 galleries across five continents, with 44 venues hosting it during March, April, and May
- It was recognized as the largest simultaneous photography exhibition ever organized
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Bristol Photo Festival
- Magnum Photos
- PetaPixel
Locations
- Bristol
- United Kingdom
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Disneyland
- Las Vegas
- Nevada
- USA
- Florida
- Venice Beach
- California
- Taunton
- England