Jo Ractliffe at the Jeu de Paume
Dounia Baco
Explore the retrospective exhibition in Paris and discover how Jo Ractliffe captures history, memory, and emotion through her photography.
Whether you’re passionate about photography and culture or simply curious to discover something new, the upcoming exhibitions at the Jeu de Paume in Paris offer much to explore. Notably, the work of Jo Ractliffe will be among the highlights.
In 2026, the exhibition program brings together several leading figures from the photography scene, including both Martin Parr and Jo Ractliffe for a very special celebration of the art form. These exhibitions will run simultaneously at the Jeu de Paume from 30 January to 24 May 2026.
Each exhibition tells its own story, offering a distinct perspective on themes that invite reflection. Moreover, this major showcase will cover Jo Ractliffe’s entire photographic career, from her early work in 1982 to new pieces created especially for this occasion.
Jo Ractliffe, Between history and photography.
A South African photographer, Jo Ractliffe, began her career in the early 1980s amid the struggle against apartheid. She holds a significant place in contemporary photography, despite the limited visibility of her work in France. Over the decades, she has developed a singular visual language that combines political awareness with poetic restraint, positioning her work at the intersection of history, memory, and place.
Her work engages with the enduring trauma of colonialism, apartheid, and the aftermath of the Angolan War. Rather than documenting events directly, her photographs capture landscapes that bear silent witness to suffering and historical memory. Her images avoid explicit violence or drama, instead revealing places charged with emotion and remembrance.
Piet Basson’s Bible, 2013 from the series The Borderlands gelatin silver print by Jo Ractliffe.
Photography unforgettable with Jo Ractliffe
In this largely monochromatic exhibition, Ractliffe shows us the evolution of her photography career. Here, fans of Jo Ractliffe will appreciate how her vision has continued to evolve over time. She invites visitors to reflect on what lies before them and on what remains quiet yet present.
Through images of emotionally charged places, she presents a historical reality shaped not by a journalistic or documentary approach. Instead, it is shaped by a literary and artistic sensibility.
By encouraging slow observation, the exhibition creates space for contemplation and critical thought. It asks viewers to consider how history imprints itself on landscapes and how photography can preserve traces of what is no longer visible. Through her work, Jo’s distinctive perspective enhances contemporary debates around memory, representation, and collective responsibility.
