12 ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF PARIS

Marc Riboud Painter on the Eiffel Tower 1953 (detail), The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, purchase funded by the Mundy Companies, 99-82 © Marc Riboud, Magnum Photos/Copyright Agency, photo © The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Will Michels
Marc Riboud Painter on the Eiffel Tower 1953 (detail), The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, purchase funded by the Mundy Companies, 99-82 © Marc Riboud, Magnum Photos/Copyright Agency, photo © The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Will Michels

What makes Paris so special for photographers? And what impact do iconic photographs have on our perceptions of The City of Light?

In an hour-long talk at the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney-based photographer Tony Maniaty will be exploring 12 iconic images - by Robert Doisneau, Henri-Cartier Bresson and others - that have shaped our view of Paris, via the streets and cafes, society and high fashion, the cultural scene.

A fascinating journey through the lens of master photographers, capturing a dozen classic moments that have shaped and sustained the dream of Paris as the city of beauty and love.

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May

Melbourne: Until March 2027. Rehearsing the City presents archival photographs from Victoria’s government collections, alongside new work by contemporary street photographers.

June

Sydney: Until 7 Feb 2027. From his archive of more than 200,000 images, Close Up celebrates the historic moments and pivotal people he famously captured.

Brisbane: until 18 October 2026. Known affectionately as the ‘Cool Cat of journalism’ Wayne moved effortlessly among the greats, between the media and community, treating every encounter as part of his day’s work behind the lens.

July

Melbourne: Until 30 September 2026. Melbourne photographer Stefanie Wendler-Canning is inviting visitors to see one of the garden's most familiar flowers from an entirely different perspective in her new exhibition.

August

Melbourne: Until 15 November 2026. This exhibition will present the most comprehensive survey of the work of the eminent Hungarian-born, French photographer Brassaï yet to be seen in Australia.

Brisbane: Until 1 November 2026. The finalist exhibition of the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards brings together striking photographic works that capture the city’s spirit — from familiar streets and riverside scenes to the fleeting moments, routines and characters that make Brisbane feel like home.

Sydney: 24 August 2026 – 18 July 2027. Featuring almost 200 images and original prints personally selected by Dupain for magazine and book publishers, the exhibition reveals the extraordinary breadth of his work.

September

Melbourne: Until 19 February 2027. Spanning 55 years from 1971, Chapman’s visual journey began aboard the ‘Green Bus’ from Elsternwick to Melbourne’s city centre – chronicling the evolution of Australian life along the way.

October

Perth: Until 31 January 2027. The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) presents No night is long enough for us to dream twice, a major exhibition of contemporary photography and video, bringing together more than 100 works by seven living artists and one artist duo from across South West Asia, North Africa and its many diasporas.