Jean Pierre Rieu
Jean-Pierre Rieu is a self-taught photographer from the south of France whose practice began as a form of introspection and grew into a distinctive mode of artistic expression. Without formal training, he developed his craft through experimentation and close observation of light, space, and silence.
He has become known for his emotive exploration of abandoned places, working primarily within the Urbex genre. His imagery transforms forgotten architecture into visual poetry, inviting viewers to reflect on time, memory, and impermanence.
Jean-Pierre approaches Urbex not merely as a photographic style, but as a respectful and meditative philosophy. He meticulously researches each destination and undertakes difficult journeys to reach off-limits or hidden locations. Once there, he engages in a silent dialogue with the space, allowing atmosphere and emotion to lead the creative process.
His images, often composed in natural light, reveal the quiet beauty of decay. A broken window, a weathered chair, or flaking wallpaper becomes a vessel for untold stories. With patience and sensitivity, he reveals human traces within abandoned structures, offering viewers a sense of presence within absence. His work bridges the realms of poetic realism and documentary, capturing both the aesthetics of ruin and the dignity of forgotten places.
Jean-Pierre Rieu’s practice is rooted in a deep reverence for history. Each location he photographs becomes a visual elegy to past lives, lost moments, and the fragility of human presence. His compositions are intentional and immersive, characterised by a profound emotional depth that emerges from stillness and solitude.
Rather than romanticising abandonment, he honours it. Through carefully observed details—a discarded photograph, an empty corridor—he creates meditative spaces where viewers can contemplate the transient nature of existence. His photographs do not speak of loss alone; they speak of memory, resilience, and the human imprint that lingers in forgotten corners.
Jean-Pierre’s work has been published in leading French photography magazines including Chasseur d’images and Réponse Photo, and he contributed to the book La netteté en photographie with a technical article on sharpness. His Urbex images have been exhibited at festivals across France, including Les Azimutés d’Uzès, the Vincennes Images Festival (VIF), the Festival de Moncoutant, and Phot’Aubrac 2025.
