Martin Parr and Bristol Pride launch free photography exhibition

A select exhibition of Martin’s Parr photos of Bristol Pride from over the past decade is set to take stage at Bristol Museum this May.

The world-famous documentary photographer’s work showcases the city’s colourful Parade March, which last year saw 25,000 people attend. Images in the exhibition capture all the different walks of life that come to celebrate and protest at Bristol Pride, which this year will see a 40,000 attendee-strong festival take place at The Downs. Over 200 acts will perform across 5 stages at one of the biggest events of the summer, as showcased through Parr’s lens.

Parr’s work has become synonymous with fly-on-the-wall and candid documentary style, often provoking a mixed reaction and creating narratives with his perspective. His work has been collected by many of the world’s leading museums, from the Tate, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He established the Bristol-based Martin Parr Foundation in 2017.

Martin Parr explains that: "I have photographed over four Prides and it's always one of the best days for shooting in the Bristol calendar. I like shooting when people are assembling for the march, and also gives me a chance to shoot some great homemade placards, and to isolate these, and give them more presence. It is fantastic how Pride marches are now enjoyed by so many people. This would not have been the case when these marches started as the acceptance of the gay/ trans sections of society is now so much greater."

Having personally attended Bristol Pride since 2017, Parr’s snapshots reveal a fascinating insight into the busy, colourful, and joyful event that Bristol Pride puts on annually. 

Daryn Carter MBE, Pride Director, said: "It’s been such a pleasure and so exciting to work with the Martin Parr Foundation and Bristol Museum to display this unique retrospective. Martin’s work captures Pride’s themes of celebration, protest, and visibility in a brilliantly honest way. Having these photos showcased in Bristol Museum is also very special as throughout history, LGBT+ visibility often goes undocumented and forgotten. 

We’re really proud to have teamed up as a trio of Bristol Institutions to deliver this exhibition."

The free exhibition is confirmed to open on Tuesday 27 May 2025 until Sunday 23 November and lead the way for the upcoming Bristol Pride fortnight of events taking place from Saturday 28 June until Saturday 13 July. Alongside the exhibition, Bristol Pride’s calendar of events includes theatre, comedy, sport, a film festival, workshops, events, and more. The exciting diary of  events culminates in the main Pride Day on Saturday 12 July with artists including Allie X, Kim Wilde, Ultra Naté, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Cascada.