The Other Side of the Beautiful Gérard Ufères: Behind the Scenes of Theaters, Museum Masterpieces, and Their Connoisseurs

Gérard Uferas is one of the most renowned and vibrant contemporary French photographers. His talent is multifaceted, but he is most drawn to what is hidden from view. Therefore, his most famous photographs are taken backstage and in theater dressing rooms, in the corridors and locker rooms of fashion shows, and in the halls and storerooms of museums.

Although Gerard Uferas photographed film and pop stars, fashion shows, and even politicians during his lifetime, he gained worldwide fame thanks to his series of photographs in the world's largest museums and opera houses.

The photographer explained that museums have fascinated him since childhood. In the 1960s, there wasn't the same widespread fascination with art masterpieces as there is today. Museums were frequented by true connoisseurs who knew how to savor the magic of beauty. Even as a boy, Gérard Uferas was immersed in the museum atmosphere.

He began with exhibitions in his native Montreuil, and later became a regular visitor to the Louvre and other museums in Paris:

Later, as a young man, Ufera also developed a passion for theater. When he picked up a camera, the puzzle came together, and the photographer has remained passionate about his work ever since.

Ufer's main principle as a photographer is not to intrude into the frame. The master allows events to mature, to reach their desired point. He has a keen sense of when the time is right, when it's impossible not to press the shutter.

The master believes that endurance and patience are among the most important qualities of a good photographer. Uferas recalled once observing a couple in love for several hours in the Louvre. He wanted to capture the young people kissing. The photographer managed to capture the precious shot just a few minutes before the museum closed.

Gérard Uferas is a living classic of European photography. His works are held in the collections of museums such as the European House of Photography in Paris, the National Gallery in London, the Musée d'Elysée in Lausanne, and the Henckel Collection in Germany. His photographs also grace the pages of Marie Claire (Italy), Le Monde, View Point, L'Officiel, Io Donna, Fashion, and many others.

Do you think a photographer can still remain an unnoticed observer today, or is this art becoming a thing of the past in the age of social media and instant content?

source