Dana Lixenberg's 'American Images' Exhibition at MEP Paris Explores Portraiture as Ethical Encounter
The exhibition 'American Images' by Dana Lixenberg is on display at MEP in Paris until May 24, 2026. The photographer, originally from Amsterdam, presents more than thirty years of exploration into American life through portraits that highlight themes of duration and reciprocity. Notable works include 'Imperial Courts,' which captures residents of the Watts housing project following the 1992 Los Angeles riots, as well as projects focusing on Indigenous communities facing climate change. Lixenberg has photographed cultural figures such as Tupac Shakur (1993) and A Tribe Called Quest (1997). The show includes Polaroid test shots and connects her work with artists like Rineke Dijkstra and Nan Goldin, emphasizing photography's role in navigating today's fast-paced media environment. Written by Anna Müller on February 21, 2026.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'American Images' by Dana Lixenberg runs until 24 May 2026 at MEP in Paris
- Lixenberg is an Amsterdam-born photographer with decades of work in the United States
- Key project 'Imperial Courts' documents Watts housing project residents from 1992 Los Angeles uprising to present
- Exhibition includes portraits of cultural figures like Tupac Shakur (1993) and A Tribe Called Quest (1997)
- Features series 'Jeffersonville, Indiana' and 'The Last Days of Shishmaref' on Indigenous communities
- Show includes Polaroid test shots and outtakes highlighting process and materiality
- Contextualized with artists Rineke Dijkstra, Nan Goldin, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Joel Quayson, and Johny Pitts
- Work courtesy of Grimm Amsterdam | London | New York, written by Anna Müller and posted 21 February 2026
Entities
Artists
- Dana Lixenberg
- Rineke Dijkstra
- Nan Goldin
- LaToya Ruby Frazier
- Joel Quayson
- Johny Pitts
- Tupac Shakur
- Kamaal “Q-Tip” Fareed
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad
- Malik “Phife” Taylor
- Helen Gurley Brown
- Anna Müller
Institutions
- MEP
- Grimm Amsterdam | London | New York
- Aesthetica Magazine
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- United States
- Los Angeles
- Watts
- Jeffersonville
- Indiana
- Shishmaref