Julia Gragnon, founder and director of La Galerie de l’Instant, discovered Paolo Pellegrin’s work at the Rencontres d’Arles in 2008. It was her first time attending the festival, and his exhibition As I Was Dying was displayed in the last building of the Ateliers SNCF. Encountering his images was a profound shock for her—their power, the beauty of the prints, the depth of the blacks. Although she had always believed herself immune to reportage photography, that moment shattered her assumptions, opening her mind and putting her back in her place.
A few months later, at the Visa pour l’Image Photojournalism Festival in Perpignan, she crossed paths with him alone in an alley. Without overthinking, she approached him directly, expressing her admiration and her desire to present his work to a broader audience—those, like herself at the time, who knew little or nothing about him. To her surprise, almost instantly and without knowing her, he agreed to entrust her with some prints for her very first collective exhibition dedicated to reportage photography. He even offered her contacts of several colleagues, including the unforgettable and extraordinary Stanley Greene.
This accessibility and kindness—despite already being a prominent figure in the field, something she had not yet fully realized—reflected a singular personality. She quickly came to appreciate the full extent of his talent and many other qualities, and today she counts herself lucky to call him a friend. These kinds of encounters are, for her, the most rewarding part of being a gallery owner.
To discover such an artist’s work, to meet him, exhibit him, share this admiration with the public, and access his inner world is a privilege that justifies every sacrifice. Spending a night immersed in his archives, as she did in preparation for this exhibition, was a nearly childlike joy. Like a child in a toy store, she spent hours with her nose in vintage prints, rare books from his collection, and plans both past and future—savoring every moment of that trust and the happiness of losing herself in a body of work that holds such deep meaning for her.
Because although Paolo is first and foremost recognized as a photojournalist, she has always found that label too limiting. He is an Artist—an immense photographer—whether documenting conflict in distant lands, spending time with his family in the Swiss mountains, walking alone through the streets of New York, or exploring more abstract themes, as in his recent work on the fragility of the world.
His curiosity, openness, and above all, his empathy make him a unique figure in contemporary photography. Julia Gragnon considers herself truly fortunate to present these beautiful and powerful images, especially while his work is also being shown in the world’s most prestigious museums. Despite numerous awards and well-earned success, he has remained remarkably humble. His gaze remains sharply attuned, and his freedom, exceptional.

About the Authors

Paolo Pellegrin (born 1964, Rome) is an internationally renowned Italian photographer celebrated for his striking visual narratives and deep engagement with global social and political issues.
After initially studying architecture at Università La Sapienza, he shifted his focus to photography, training at the Istituto Italiano di Fotografia in Milan. This foundation set the stage for a career defined by a rare blend of artistic sensitivity and documentary urgency.
Over the past three decades, Pellegrin has covered major conflicts, humanitarian crises, and environmental transformations around the world—from the Balkans and the Middle East to Africa, the Americas, and beyond. His work consistently captures the emotional and psychological weight of contemporary events, often framed through rich contrasts of light and shadow.
He joined Magnum Photos as a nominee in 2001 and became a full member in 2005. For over ten years, he was a contract photographer for Newsweek, contributing to the magazine’s coverage of war, disaster, and displacement. Pellegrin’s work has earned him many of photography’s most prestigious honors, including ten World Press Photo awards, the Robert Capa Gold Medal, the Leica Medal of Excellence, the W. Eugene Smith Grant, and the Olivier Rebbot Award.
His publications include Kosovo, 1999–2000: The Flight of Reason (2002), As I Was Dying (2007), Dies Irae (2011), Heart of Darkness (2015), and Congo (2015, in collaboration with Alex Majoli). In 2022, he unveiled a major climate-focused project at Gallerie d’Italia in Turin, featuring images taken across several continents.
Paolo Pellegrin currently lives in Geneva, Switzerland, where he continues to work on editorial assignments and long-term personal projects that explore the fragile state of the world and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.