27 photos, 13 artists : Welcome to my ideal Arles 2026 exhibition
As I try to literally cool down from an intense opening week at Les Rencontres d’Arles, I wanted to write a few pieces as both a wrap-up and a tribute.
Today, my focus is on the true raison d’être of this incredible event: photography itself.
Between the official Rencontres and the Off festival, you get a whopping 400+ exhibitions. Naturally, the main festival (the 'In') and the major 'Off' events occupy the most prestigious venues, from historic landmarks to vast industrial spaces. But photography truly is everywhere. Even the most unexpected nooks, no matter how mundane, tiny, or crooked, are transformed into ephemeral galleries. And when indoor space runs out, the art simply spills onto parks and sidewalks.
You leap from precise scenographies with immaculate framing, perfect lighting, and flawless alignment, to a joyful, chaotic display of prints hanging by clothespins and thumbtacks.
What makes it magical, though, is that you can find gems absolutely anywhere.
So, here is my personal curation of Arles 2026. Keep in mind that, as with any curation, it was a heartbreak to leave some incredible work out of this final selection.
Let’s step in Galerie Bokeh together for my first virtual vernissage.
Milena Schilling - The Dior Photography Award for Young Talents 2026
Stepping into the gallery entrance, you let out a sigh of relief as you leave the scorching heat of the street and feel the coolness of the old walls. Watching the delicate light bathing those dancing bodies in transparent, icy waters gives you an immediate, refreshing sensation.
Stan Douglas at LUMA and Sacha Goldberger at Croisières
The grand architecture of the old stairs on your right further resonates with these two large prints. Both are masterpieces of light, color, and detail. Here, you confront the documentary ambiguity of Douglas with Goldberger’s old-Hollywood goofiness.
Olivier Metzger at Croisières
You enter a more intimate room. Night shots in black and white. Is it snow, or flakes of light dancing around?
Pentti Sammallahti at Croisières
In the same room, Nordic, bittersweet pictures and the poetry of lines echo the snowy landscape you just saw.
Betty Goh / SubConscious at Les Murs Blancs
In a large stone alcove hangs a muted, metallic, and dreamlike print by Betty, one of my favorite photographers.
Yuan Chen, Milena Schilling, Marcie Doherty - The Dior Photography Award for Young Talents 2026
Against the backdrop of the interior windows looking over the covered patio, images of the talented new generation of photographers are hanging in space. Deconstructed reality, subtle still lifes, and strong contrasts.
César Rodríguez at Galerie Triptyque
Ming Smith at Église Sainte-Anne
Time to enter the biggest room, a perfect place to explore humanity and intimacy! The down-to-earth, gritty blacks of Rodríguez provide a raspy introduction to the poetic blur and movement, full of jazz, dance, and spirituality, of Ming Smith.
Park Chan-wook at Lee Ufan
Jeanne Guerrier at Galerie César
Before closing the loop, it’s now time to take a step back to reflect on photography, life, and ourselves. Far from his cinematic eye, Park offers an inner observation of the mundane absurdity of life. And is that me watching the exhibition in that delightful image by Jeanne?
William Klein, This Way to Heaven
This journey would not be complete without a wink to pop culture and rebellion.
As you leave the exhibition, you can’t help thinking: this is what art and photography are all about. The parting shot reminds us of our current world. Within the beautiful, chaotic clash of cultures that defines Les Rencontres d'Arles, this image carries a heavy, fascinating double reading. Beyond the cold, vintage texture of the print, the word "ICE" whispers of borders, origins, and the human friction of our times.
A reminder that photography is never just about what we see, but about the world we carry within us when we look.
Thank you for walking through my ideal gallery of Arles 2026 (and do not forget to visit our amazing boutique or the coffee shop before leaving!)
