Inspired by Martin Parr

Born in the London suburbs in 1952, Martin Parr has been a member of the Magnum agency since 1994. After studying photography at Manchester Polytechnic, he became interested in documentary photography very early on and was especially fascinated by the work of Henri Cartier Bresson.

A keen observer of the society around him, Martin Parr comically denounces the excesses of mass tourism, the international jet set and the boredom that seems to emanate from it. His sharp and often ironic gaze focuses on everyday life, from family reunions to sunbathing on British beaches, suburbain life to the consumerism encouraged by shopping centers. Is his artwork a playful satire teasing us, and himself? Or is it a burlesque and a colourful ode to our disillusioned daily lives, our postmodernist obsessions, our dreary distress of boredom? Whatever it be, his style is unique, and even Henri Cartier Bresson once told him during his 1995 photography exhibition in Paris "you come from another planet." 

Parr's aesthetic of brilliant boredom is defined by grotesque scenes, close-ups, dazzling flashes, a lack of colour editing and a stubborn refusal to search for a smiles.

He has published over 70 photography books and has collaborated on more than 30 publications, including The Photobook: A History and, more recently, Life's a Beach (2013), Martin Parr Paris (2014), and Autoportrait (2015). A collector of postcards and absurd objects, he revealed his curious world during his touring exhibition “Planète Parr," presented in Paris at the Jeu de Paume in 2009. He has received a number of prestigious prizes, including one from the Royal Photographic Society and the Erich Salomon Prize (photojournalism).

He is also the author of several documentaries, inspired from his photo series, which are similar to intimate everyday life movies, illustrating daily life and encounters of the people he has photographed.  

Regarded by the American photographer Alec Soth as "the Jay-Z of photography," Martin Parr established vernacular photography as a legitimate discipline within contemporary photography. At a time where the abuses and reality of Western society had to be denounced, Parr's style has inspired many of his peer photographers to do the same. His aesthetic continues to be relevant today, especially within the context of social media's obsession with the self and oversharing everything from the food we eat to glamorous holiday photos.

In this selection you'll find a selection of artworks by contemporary artists who drew inspiration from this great photographer. You can discover more in our selection of photography recommendations.