Maison Européenne de la Photographie (Center for European Photography)

Maison Européenne de la Photographie (Center for European Photography) Review

Much of the credit for the city's ascendancy as a hub of international photography goes to MEP and its director, Jean-Luc Monterosso, who also founded Paris's hugely successful Mois de la Photographie festival in November. The MEP hosts up to four simultaneous exhibitions, changing about every three months. Shows feature the work of an international crop of photographers and video artists. Works by superstar Annie Leibovitz or designer-photographer Karl Lagerfeld may overlap with a collection of self-portraits by an up-and-coming Japanese artist. MEP often stages retrospectives of the classics (by Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray, and others) from its vast private collection. Programs are available in English and guided tours are sometimes given in English (call ahead to find out).