About
Founded at a time when photography was only beginning to secure a foothold both in museum collections and in the art market at large, A Gallery for Fine Photography is a living landmark in the history of photography. Located in the Historic New Orleans French Quarter, A Gallery opened its doors in 1973, a world away from the cornerstones of the global contemporary art scene. Thanks to the staunchly independent vision of its founder, Joshua Mann Pailet, A Gallery has remained a haven for photography, from the earliest photographs to contemporary pieces.
Over more than four decades in business, A Gallery for Fine Photography has established itself as one of the most respected photography galleries in America – one that has flourished despite an ever-changing art world by remaining true to itself and Pailet’s unique perspective.
A Gallery for Fine Photography quickly made a name for itself with its first solo exhibition: a 1975 retrospective featuring the work of Ansel Adams, one of the godfathers of American photography. Today, more than forty years later, the gallery has come to resemble a museum for sale – both in the breadth and quality of its collection and in its mission to preserve and honor the history of the photographic medium. An alternative to the sterile, white-walled galleries of the contemporary art world, A Gallery, much like the French Quarter itself, effortlessly blends the historic and the vanguard. The gallery hopes to inspire the passions and curiosities of each person who walks through the door, from curious tourists to seasoned collectors and world-renowned curators. A Gallery continues to maintain an inventory featuring some of the most celebrated photographers of the last two centuries while mounting regular exhibitions of contemporary photographers from New Orleans and throughout the world.
Joshua Mann Pailet
Joshua Mann Pailet was born in the middle of the year, the middle of the day in the middle of the century on June 30,1950.
Joshua’s mother, Charlotte Mannova was born in Brno, Czechoslovokia and survived the Holocaust via kindertransport.
The rest of her immediate family did not survive.
She met Joshua’s father in England when he was a Lieutenant in the US Army and moved to New Orleans, USA.
Joshua attended Rice University in 1968-1972-1973 where he studied Engineering, Economics and obtained in Masters in Accounting.
He took a photography course with Eve Sonneman to satisfy his fine Art credit.
He fell in love with the medium and began shooting his Nikon FE2 everyday.
His photography class exhibited their photographs at the Rice Gallery and Dominique and John de Menil of the Menil foundation purchased 19 of his photographs.
Joshua attributes Mrs. de Menil’s continued collecting of his work to allowing him complete artistic freedom.
Joshua opened A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans in 1975 to represent other artists.
With more good luck, Pailet met Harry Lunn, who assisted him with access to his first Ansel Adams Show.
Joshua closed A Gallery to live on the American Freedom Train for a year as their official Photographer.
The American Freedom Train was a red, white and blue steam engine that traveled across the country and was one of the last steam engines in the US.
He reopened his gallery in 1977 and began showing artists including Brassaï, Diane Arbus, Ansel Adams and all the major Photographers.
Joshua is a founding member of AIPAD and was in the group of original photography dealers at Art Basel in Switzerland in 1989.
He procured a booth at both photo fairs for 15 years.
He continues to operate his gallery in New Orleans and work on his own photographs.
Joshua represents Henri Cartier-Bresson, Helmut Newton, Elliott Erwitt, Herman Leonard, Peter Beard and many many more.
A Gallery is the longest surviving photography gallery in the World and is located at 241 Chartres St, New Orleans, USA.
Joshua has over 350,000 black and white negatives and 150,000 color slides.
His work includes rock and roll, New Orleans culture, major American history events, Hurricane Katrina and many European images showcasing Paris, Prague and Switzerland.
His love of photography, honesty of the human condition, range of work and his ability to capture
moments at their truthful speed allows viewers to see and feel life all around.
His work resides in the Bibliothèque Nationale in France, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Polk Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress.