Foam presents Very Modern and Rather Ugly, the recently opened exhibition of Martin Parr, featuring his most iconic images. Parr is celebrated for his ability to make the familiar look strange and the boring interesting. Through his vibrant visual language, he transformed seemingly banal scenes into incisive reflections on modern society.
The exhibition invites visitors not only to view Parr’s world but to explore it further. A reading area allows you to delve into his many photobook publications, and the café offers a specially curated menu inspired by Martin Parr – including scones and classic English tea.
Experience why the everyday is anything but ordinary in Parr’s work. Very Modern and Rather Ugly is on view at Foam until August 12, 2026.
Martin Parr (1952–2025) was born in Epsom, United Kingdom, and studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic. In 1994, Parr became a full member of Magnum Photos and served as the agency’s president from 2013 to 2017. Alongside his photographic practice, he was active as a curator, editor and professor. Having published over 150 books of his own and edited another 30 in his lifetime, Parr built a long-lasting legacy. His work has been collected by many of the world’s leading museums, from Tate in the UK to the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2017, the Martin Parr Foundation was established in Bristol to support emerging, established and under-recognised photographers whose work focuses on Great Britain and Ireland.
Martin Parr : Very Modern and Rather Ugly
April 3 – August 12, 2026
Foam
Keizersgracht 609
1017 DS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
www.foam.org
