Raphaël Neal’s photographic work has been exhibited and published in France and internationally since 2005.

Through portraits and self-portraits, the work explores themes such as solitude and seduction, boredom and imposture, and questions our relationship with beauty and nostalgia.

The Bates Productions (2001-2011) series consists in stills and posters of imaginary movies. His series de qui aurais-je crainte ? (2011) was entirely shot outdoors in locations containing no trace of civilization, and pays tribute to the virtues of faith and independence. Shot in different countries, the large self-portraits of IKWIG! (2014) depict characters who seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong moment. His still life series Rescapee showcased fake theatre and movie memorabilia.

In 2015, Raphaël Neal directed his first long feature, Fever. Written with Alice Zeniter and released in France and the US, it tells the story of two Parisian teenager murderers.

Recent photo series include Langue d’Oïl (2019), inspired by the Pied Piper legend, Gone Fishing (2017) shot in a remote village on Stromboli (Sicily), and Dark Circus (2020), self-portraits created in London during the pandemic lockdown. Exhibited at ImageSingulières festival (FR) in 2022, the New Waves series consists of portraits of teenagers paired with landscapes. The most recent self-portraits series, Hollywood Nightmares (2023), pays tribute to the golden age of cinema, with a horrific twist.

Photo agent (FR) : Agence VU’
Cinema agent (FR) : Agence Aimant

EXHIBITIONS

Solo shows

2022 New Waves at ImageSingulières, Sète
2018 Gone Fishing at Caravansérail, London
2017 Rescapee + Les Nouveaux vestiges at Opéra de Rouen, Rouen
2016 EXHIBITION at Galerie Thierry Marlat, Paris
2009 Après vous, Messieurs centre culturel de Dourdan
2008 Rafi at Griesmar & Tamer, Paris
2007 Bates Productions at Envoy Gallery, New York
2005 Raphaël Neal at Librairie de Seine, Paris
2005 Royal British at CAB / Ynox Magazine, Paris

Group shows

2023-24 ROSL Photo 23 ROSL Over-Seas House, London UK
2023 Portrait of Britain nationwide exhibition on JCDecaux screens, UK
2022 Sony World Photo Awards Somerset House, London UK
2022 Portrait of Britain nationwide exhibition on JCDecaux screens, UK
2021 Edition365 British Journal of Photography virtual exhibition, New Art City, UK
2021 10 year anniversary at Galerie Hors-Champs, Paris
2020 Portrait of Britain nationwide exhibition on JCDecaux screens, UK
2019 Photo Salon 19 at Photofusion, Brixton (London), UK
2019 Summer Exhibition at Halsnøy Kloster, Norway
2018 Artists in Residence at Sunnhørdland Museum, Norway
2016 Les échappées at Galerie Hors-Champs, Paris
2013 IKWIG! at Halsnøy Kloster, Halsnøy, Norway
2012 Beautiful Loot Collective at the Old Net Loft, Pittenweem, Scotland
2011 Under 21 at Holden Luntz, Palm Beach
2011 Rough Trade at Galerie du Jour Agnès B, Paris
2009 Amanda Lear et Raphaël Neal at Griesmar & Tamer, Paris
2009 Voxpop at Galerie Thierry Marlat, Paris
2009 A Time remembered at Holden Luntz, Palm Beach
2008 Voxpop at Rencontres d'Arles
2008 Love show at Holden Luntz, Palm Beach
2008 TAATTII at Griesmar et Tamer, Paris
2008 (Untitled) u=_____ at Fette's Gallery, Los Angeles
2007 Hommage à Huguette Spengler at Ynox, Paris
2007 Art Basel at Envoy Gallery, Miami
2006 La Photographie dans tous ses états at Heartgalerie, Paris

Publications

2023 The Times, Philosophie Magazine, Les Echos Weekend, Observer’s New Review, 5Media
2022 Le Monde, The Guardian, British Journal of Photography, Ready2Go, The Independent
2021 D La Repubblica, Le Monde, Le Temps, The Guardian, The Atlantic, It’s Nice That, AND
2020 The New Yorker, Les Inrocks, Nouvel Obs, Libération, Télérama, The Big Issue, Le Monde
2019 Le Monde, Libération, Les Inrocks, Persona, Classical Music Magazine, Les Échos Week-end
2018 Libération, Les Échos Week-end, So Film, À Nous Paris, Philosophie Magazine
2017 Noto, Ouest-France, Les Inrocks, Philosophie Magazine
2016 Télérama, Le Monde, L'Express, Libération, Slate, Huffington Post
2015 Les Inrockuptibles, Le Figaro, Têtu, Le Bonbon, A Nous Paris
2014 Eyemazing Susan, Les Inrockuptibles
2013 Prussian Blue, Technikart, Le JDD, La Croix, L'Express, Le Point, Le Monde
2012 Voxpop, Longueur d'Ondes, Technikart
2011 Libération, Syncope, Voxpop
2010 Eyemazing, Edwarda, Doopler (Argentina), PREF, Photo+ (Korea)
2009 Muteen, Libération, Le Figaro, Voxpop, Le Monde, Eldorado, PREF
2008 Libération, Voxpop, A Nous Paris, Figaroscope, Illiterate,
New York Magazine, Eldorado, Axess, PREF Mag, France Amérique, L'Express
2007 Eyemazing, Dazed & Confused, New York Magazine
2006 PREF Mag, Le Figaro, Jhon, Upstreet, A Nous Paris, Neverending,
Rolling Stone, Ruby Mag
2005 Le Monde2, Photos Nouvelles, PREF Mag