A new exhibition is showcasing the evocative photography of Martine Barrat, a French artist whose deep connection to New York City allowed her to document the soul of Harlem and the South Bronx with unprecedented intimacy. Her work, currently on display as part of “Soul of the City” in Arles, France, until October 4, highlights a body of art that transcends traditional photography circles by embedding herself within the neighborhoods she portrays.
Barrat’s journey into these communities began in 1970 when she was captivated by the poetic, musical quality of African American vernacular. She recorded audio tapes with neighborhood children, who became her teachers and friends. Over time, she was welcomed into homes and social gatherings, including gang apartments and child boxing matches, gaining access that most outsiders never receive.
In Harlem, known locally as the “Picture Girl,” Barrat formed lasting bonds. One notable image from 1978, titled “Say I Do,” captures a wedding between a couple she met after being stranded on a stalled subway train. The photograph was so beloved by her friend Yves Saint Laurent that he displayed it in his bedroom. Another series focuses on “focus men”—musicians, domino players, and boxers—whom she photographed by capturing their hands to tell their stories without revealing their faces, allowing them to remain unaware of her presence.
Barrat’s documentation of the South Bronx during the late 1970s offers a counter-narrative to the prevalent imagery of poverty and violence. Through a neighbor at the Chelsea Hotel, she met Pearl, a leader of the Roman Kings gang. Although the gang initially intended to steal her equipment, they were charmed by her authenticity and invited her into their world. After a drug-addicted neighbor stole her video camera in 1977, Pearl gifted her a still camera, prompting Barrat to shift to photography. This medium allowed her to control the narrative exclusively, focusing on the beauty and intelligence of residents living in dilapidated environments.
Her “Do Or Die” series explores the world of amateur youth boxing, where children as young as three to twelve found hope in the ring as an escape from poverty. Barrat was particularly moved by the fraternal bonds and tenderness evident between the young fighters and their coaches, many of whom were family members. Images such as Carlos Villafane, a six-year-old with an oversized mouth guard, illustrate her ability to capture profound emotion, describing his gaze as piercing her heart.
Beyond her American work, Barrat’s lens also turned to La Goutte d’Or in Paris, where she met Mamadou Yaffa in 1982. She documented his life from age four, later inviting him to New York in the 1990s to bridge his understanding of American social realities. Yaffa, now the deputy mayor of Paris, stands as a testament to the human connections Barrat fosters through her art. Her exhibition continues to highlight the enduring love, joy, and resilience of communities often defined solely by their hardships.
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