Last weekend, Paris Photo offered the perfect opportunity to discover new names in photography and spotlight emerging talents on the Parisian scene. In the spirit of this creativity-filled event, Sneaker Spirit is shining a light on five female talents from the Paris scene or who took part in the fair. Connected through their photographic practice, these artists also share a common subject: women in all their forms and at every age.
Luna Harst or unfiltered feminity
A self-taught photographer, Luna Harst didn’t come through a photography school. This initial freedom shaped her style: without technical constraints holding her back, she focused on people. Emotions, those of her subjects as well as her own became her compass, guiding her toward her signature approach.
Her images, often infused with vibrant colors, stand out for their spontaneity and intensity. She creates much of her work on the terrace of her apartment, which becomes a studio whenever the weather allows, sidestepping technical constraints in favor of natural light which still requires a certain level of mastery.
Luna Harst has worked on campaigns for brands such as Darjeeling and Rouje, and she shot Lauren Bastide’s portrait for the promotion of her podcast Folie douce. Her goal: to show women as they truly are and to capture love between people, whether they are bound by family ties or romantic feelings.
Francesca Allen, sorority as a ritual
A British photographer, Francesca Allen was sponsored by the house of Chloé at Paris Photo, under the artistic direction of Chemena Kamali, as part of a program supporting female creativity. She mainly produced a series in Kaunas, Lithuania, documenting the contest for the world’s longest hair. Her images, often shot from behind, reveal the patience and effort of the participants and resemble a ritual shaped by the codes and norms of femininity.
Allen also recently photographed singer Lily Allen for Vogue UK, as the artist makes a powerful musical comeback after seven years away. Her work blends sensitivity with documentary precision, offering an intimate and profound vision of women.
Gül Obuk, skin-deep fashion
A photographer and art director, Gül Obuk works primarily in the world of fashion while maintaining a strong connection to music. Her photographs often capture female models in contorted, unusual poses. Her universe carries a touch of the absurd while cultivating a cold, glossy aesthetic. At the heart of her practice lies the strangeness and singularity of bodies and settings.
So far, her fashion photography has focused exclusively on women. They stand at the center of her lens, whole and powerful.
Melissa Schriek or city-born poetry
Born in the Netherlands and a graduate of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Melissa Schriek blends the familiar with an uninhibited sense of imagination. A former dancer, she works extensively with movement and posture, creating images that oscillate between reality and fiction.
Her recent series, Girlhood Summer, reflects her interest in women and girls, particularly through the lens of sisterhood. In her work, the city becomes a living backdrop where urban furniture and unexpected gestures interact, creating a poetic and humorous sense of displacement. On the commercial side, she created the latest Dr. Martens campaign featuring the ZebZag model.
Justine Kurland : women on the road
American photographer Justine Kurland has both an academic and artistic background, having studied at Yale and the School of Visual Arts. Associated with the neo-romantic movement, she spent seven years on the road in the United States documenting her art.
Kurland explores the feminine world through series such as Girl Pictures and Mama Baby. More recently, she has ventured into collage and painting, continuing her exploration of femininity and female community. As she herself puts it: “I grew up with a sense of female community.”
Each photographer presented here offers a unique perspective on femininity, sisterhood, and women’s empowerment whether through intimate portraits, documented rituals, or carefully created staged images. These five artists embody the diversity and richness of contemporary photography driven by women.
