Martine Barrat's Harlem and Goutte-d'Or Photographs Unveiled in Arles Retrospective
The Rencontres d'Arles is presenting a significant retrospective of Martine Barrat, a French photographer renowned for her work with marginalized communities in New York and Paris. Born in Oran 93 years ago, Barrat relocated to New York in 1968 to pursue a dance career, which was cut short by an ankle injury. Her first camera was a gift from philosopher Félix Guattari, and she earned the trust of South Bronx gangs, producing documentary films exhibited at the Whitney Museum in 1978. After losing her camera, she shifted her focus to photography, highlighting urban culture and beauty. In the 1980s, she captured life in Paris's Goutte-d'Or and worked on campaigns for Alaïa and Yohji Yamamoto. The exhibition, titled 'Martine Barrat. Soul of the city,' will be open from July 6 to October 4, 2026, at the Espace Van Gogh in Arles.
Key facts
- Martine Barrat retrospective at Rencontres d'Arles, first major show of her work.
- Exhibition titled 'Martine Barrat. Soul of the city' at Espace Van Gogh, Arles, from July 6 to October 4, 2026.
- Barrat was born in Oran 93 years ago, moved to New York in 1968 as a dancer.
- Injury ended her dance career; she got her first camera from philosopher Félix Guattari.
- Documented gangs in South Bronx: Roman Kings, Roman Queens, Ghetto Brothers.
- Films 'Trial' and 'Vickie' shown at Whitney Museum in 1978 in 'You Do the Crime, You Do the Time'.
- Photographed Goutte-d'Or in Paris in the 1980s while working for Libération.
- Shot fashion for Alaïa in Harlem and Yohji Yamamoto in Brazilian favelas.
- Photographed Bob Marley and Marguerite Duras.
- Barrat still lives in New York, at the Chelsea Hotel.
- Her work captures contrast between beauty of subjects and ruined surroundings.
Entities
Artists
- Martine Barrat
- Patti Smith
- Yves Saint Laurent
- Bob Marley
- Marguerite Duras
- Carlos Villafane
Institutions
- Rencontres d'Arles
- Espace Van Gogh
- Whitney Museum
- Chelsea Hotel
- La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
- Libération
- Galerie Rouge
Locations
- Harlem
- New York
- South Bronx
- Oran
- Arles
- France
- Paris
- Goutte-d'Or
- Brazil
- United States