For its return to Paris Photo, Chloé presents a new exhibition by British photographer Francesca Allen under the creative direction of Chemena Kamali. The Maison reaffirms its focus on contemporary artistic expression and the visibility of women artists through this latest collaboration.
Allen’s series, titled Konkursas, was photographed in Lithuania at Konkursas Pasaulio Ilgaplaukes, an annual contest devoted to the world’s longest hair. She traveled to Kaunas in November 2024 with a Lithuanian friend to capture the event directly. What began as a curiosity about an unconventional competition evolved into a layered study of femininity, ritual, and image-making.
In Konkursas, participants walk the runway, pose for judges who measure their hair with precision, and take part in an elaborate finale that blends performance and folklore. Through these scenes, Allen investigates how personal identity unfolds within collective traditions. Her images reflect the rhythm of ceremony and the poise of those performing for an audience, while also observing moments of introspection between them.
Allen’s perspective centers on what it means to grow up in a modern world still shaped by inherited customs. She balances the spectacle of competition with quiet portraits that express individuality. The series connects naturally with Chloé’s focus on freedom of expression and the agency of women.
The Konkursas exhibition will also appear as a book published in collaboration with Chloé Arts and German publisher Steidl in December 2025. This publication extends the project beyond the gallery space, creating a lasting dialogue between photography and the narratives of modern women.
Presented as the second edition of Chloé Arts, the exhibition continues the initiative’s purpose of supporting women’s voices across creative disciplines. With advisory guidance from Michael Nevin and Julia Dippelhofer, Chloé Arts engages visual artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and designers whose work expands cultural understanding.
