L. Parker Stephenson Photographs is pleased to present the first solo exhibition outside of Europe of Jacques Sonck’s work. Sonck (b. 1949) has been making portraits since the mid 1970s of people he encounters on the streets and in the rural areas of his native Belgium. We invite you to join us for the exhibition’s opening reception, Wednesday, June 25th 6-8pm

The subjects in Sonck’s photographs vary in age, size, gender and style. They face the camera alone, in pairs or in groups of three. They are often presented in a manner that references classical composition, yet they always remain approachable, even familiar.

While the images from Sonck’s 40 years of portraits hint at the influences of August Sander and Diane Arbus, they are subtle and multi-layered belying first appearances. His focus on individuals as well as relationships among them is done with tenderness, humor, poetry and respect. Sonck presents the uniqueness of each sitter and in doing so puts into question the meaning of an “archetype”.

Sonck’s portraits have been exhibited at the Museum of Photography, Antwerp; the Museum of Photography, Charleroi; the National Portrait Gallery, London; the National Media Museum, Bradford; and the Palais de Tokyo, Paris among other institutions. The Gallery’s presentation of Sonck’s photographs coincides with a large solo exhibition (curated by our partner gallery, Fifty One Fine Art) in a former citadel dating from 1811, situated in the coastal town of Ostende, Belgium. A catalog, Jacques Sonck: Encounters, has been published to accompany the exhibition and will be available at the gallery.

For additional information or to request images, please contact the gallery at +1 (212)517-8700 or by email at info@lparkerstephenson.nyc.

L. Parker Stephenson Photographs, located at 764 Madison Avenue between 65th and 66th streets, is open Wednesday - Saturday from 11am - 6pm until July at which point hours will change to Tuesday - Friday from 11am - 6pm.