Ira Stehmann Fine Art at Photo London 2025
Somerset House, Stand G10 | Courtyard Pavilion
May 15—18, 2025
Ira Stehmann Fine Art is proud to announce its participation in Photo London 2025. From May 15 to 18, 2025, we will showcase a carefully curated selection of international photographic works at our stand, G10, in the Courtyard Pavilion at Somerset House.
Our exhibition will feature works by renowned photographers including Chantal E. Ariëns, Albarrán Cabrera, Simon Chaput, Steffen Diemer, Fernand Fonssagrives, William Helburn, Vivian Maier, Miho Kajioka, Jeanloup Sieff, and Christopher Thomas. These artists are celebrated for their unique perspectives and exceptional mastery of the photographic medium, making them significant figures in the art world.
Our presentation celebrates the elegant and timeless allure of the human form from a captivating perspective—the backside. With iconic works by photographers such as Jeanloup Sieff, Fernand Fonssagrives, William Helburn and Simon Chaput just to name a view, the theme wall pays homage to their graceful and sensual interpretations of this often-overlooked angle. Through masterful compositions and evocative lighting, these images challenge conventions, revealing beauty in simplicity, curve, and posture.
Beyond this thematic focus, the exhibition explores broader narratives through works by Miho Kajioka, Steffen Diemer, Albarrán Cabrera, Christopher Thomas, Vivian Maier, and Chantal E. Ariëns. Kajioka's ethereal images evoke fleeting, dreamlike moments, while Diemer's wet plate collodion pieces on black glass offer a tactile, timeless aesthetic that speaks to photographic tradition and craftsmanship. Albarrán Cabrera's poetic imagery, bathed in golden tones, contemplates memory and the passage of time. Christopher Thomas presents his Bittersweet series, tracing a delicate arc between the potential for joie de vivre and a melancholic sense of loss, evoking a rich emotional landscape. Maier's intimate street photography uncovers the hidden poetry of everyday life, while Chaput's conceptual work challenges the boundaries of visual perception. Ariëns' exploration of the feminine form captures the essence of women in motion—free, unbound, and expressive.
Together, these artists present a harmonious dialogue between form and feeling, past and present, tradition and innovation. The exhibition invites viewers to appreciate not just the physical beauty of the backside but also the metaphoric beauty of shifting perspectives and the enduring artistry of photographic storytelling.
Chantal Elisabeth Ariëns, born in 1968 in Heerlen, The Netherlands, began her artistic journey as a dancer and model before transitioning to photography at the age of thirty. She has worked with international magazines like Silhouette, A Magazine Curated by, Marie Claire, and Crash Magazine. Since 2017, Ariëns has focused on personal projects exploring introspective and emotional themes, particularly following the death of her younger sister. Her work, influenced by her background in ballet, reflects the balance between movement and stillness, capturing the fleeting beauty of life. Known for her use of photopolymer etching, she creates unique prints through a meditative, hands-on process that adds depth and texture to her images.
Anna Cabrera (b. 1969, Sevilla) and Angel Albarrán (b. 1969, Barcelona) form the Barcelona-based duo Albarrán Cabrera. Their work extends beyond photography into the realm of material experimentation, combining traditional and self-developed printing techniques such as platinum, palladium, cyanotype, and gold leaf on Japanese gampi paper. Exploring themes of time, reality, identity, and memory, their images evoke personal recollections, allowing viewers to construct their own interpretations. They see photography as a universal language, existing between the real and the unreal, revealing hidden layers of perception. By carefully selecting materials and processes, they enhance the tactile and emotional depth of their work. Every texture, tone, and detail contributes to a narrative where craftsmanship and artistic vision merge into a poetic reflection on the nature of seeing.
Simon Chaput (b. 1952) a French photographer, is known for his bold and intimate approach to nude photography. Using precise lighting, he reveals only parts of the human form against deep black backgrounds, creating striking contrasts. His work blends abstract composition with a deep understanding of the body, highlighting subtle details like the positioning of limbs. Chaput's nudes function as both grid studies and independent images, each unique while adhering to a similar compositional framework. His photographs are celebrated for their balance of form, tenderness, and self-reflection. Chaput's work is featured in major international collections and has been published in prominent outlets like The New York Times and Le Figaro.
Steffen Diemer (b. 1966) began as a photojournalist for Der Spiegel, National Geographic, and The Guardian, documenting global crisis zones. His time in Japan (1994-1998) deeply influenced his artistic philosophy. Since 2011, he has focused on fine art photography, embracing the historic wet plate collodion process. His black glass works explore transience, spirituality, and everyday beauty, often inspired by Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetics. His algae photography, blending art and science, reflects a fascination with nature's quiet elegance. Diemer's handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces invite viewers to slow down and perceive the essence of things. His work is exhibited internationally and held in esteemed collections.
Fernand Fonssagrives (1910-2003) was a French photographer renowned for his elegant and timeless imagery. Originally a ballet dancer, he turned to photography in the 1930s after an injury, refining his craft under the mentorship of Erwin Blumenfeld. Fonssagrives became a leading fashion photographer, working with magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. His work, characterized by graceful compositions and sophisticated use of natural light, often featured his wife, model Lisa Fonssagrives. In the 1950s, he shifted to photographing nudes and still lifes, with his nude studies praised for their emotional depth. Fonssagrives' work continues to influence photographers today and is featured in galleries and museums worldwide.
Vivian Maier (1926-2009) was an American photographer whose work gained fame posthumously. She spent most of her life as a nanny in Chicago and New York, photographing street and everyday scenes in her spare time without ever publishing her work. In 2007, over 150,000 negatives were discovered at an auction, sparking interest in her photography. Maier's black-and-white images reveal a keen sense of composition, light, and social observation. She often captured urban life from unique perspectives using a Rolleiflex camera. Despite leading a reclusive life, her work is now celebrated as a masterpiece of street photography, offering an intimate view of 20th-century American urban life.
Miho Kajioka, born in 1973 in Japan and now based in Paris, began her artistic career as a painter before transitioning to photography. Her work is deeply influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi, which values beauty in imperfection, transience, and humility. Following the 2011 earthquake, her art became more introspective. Kajioka's minimalist photographs often depict simple, everyday subjects, like wilting flowers or solitary birds. Using experimental analog techniques, she creates prints with unique textures and tones, often using tea or coffee, which give her work a tactile, historical quality that encourages reflection and contemplation.
William Helburn (1924-2020) was an American fashion and advertising photographer. After serving in WWII and capturing the first photos of Hiroshima, he pursued photography after being inspired by a story about model Lisa Fonssagrives. He studied under Alexey Brodovitch, leading to his first major assignment in Harper's Bazaar in 1949. Helburn's work, known for its creative, humorous, and bold aesthetic, appeared in Harper's Bazaar, The New Yorker, Esquire, and more. He worked with top models like Dovima, Jean Patchett, and Jean Shrimpton, and became friends with actress Sharon Tate. He was also passionate about fast cars, photographing for major automotive brands. Helburn remained active into the 1980s and published a book in 2014. He passed away in 2020 at age 96.
Jeanloup Sieff (1933-2000) was a renowned French photographer whose work is defined by technical mastery, emotional depth, and a unique artistic vision. He believed that photography should go beyond mere representation, capturing the essence of his subjects. Sieff's preference for black-and-white photography allowed him to distill the true spirit of his subjects, using light and composition to evoke a sense of intimacy and sensuality. His portraits, often of iconic figures like Yves Saint Laurent and Catherine Deneuve, reveal both elegance and vulnerability, serving as psychological studies. Sieff's use of wide-angle lenses and unconventional perspectives brought dynamism and depth to his work. His legacy endures as a powerful exploration of the complexity of human nature and emotion.
Christopher Thomas (b.1961), a Munich native, received his training at the Bayerische Staatslehranstalt für Fotografie. Over the course of more than three decades, he established himself internationally as a renowned advertising photographer, particularly in the demanding field of automotive work, as well as in fashion and reportage. Despite his success in the commercial sector, Thomas devoted significant energy to his personal artistic projects, especially city portraits, which brought him substantial international recognition in the art world starting in 2006. His breakthrough as an artist came in 2006 with his city portrait of Munich, exhibited at the Münchner Stadtmuseum. The unique feature of his work lay in the depiction of the city devoid of people and cars, creating a timeless and mysterious atmosphere. The artist succeeded in giving the buildings and urban landscapes a soul, making the invisible visible. He continued this distinctive artistic approach in further city projects, such as his series on New York Sleeps, Venice. The Invisible, Paris. City of Light, and Lost in LA. The photographs from these projects were successfully published by prestigious publishers such as Schirmer/Mosel and Prestel.
