Cédric Bourgeois is an art photographer based
in Seine-Saint-Denis and working in Paris.
Born in 1979 in Suresnes (France),
Cédric Bourgeois grew up in the streets
of Cité Jardin. Inspired by the artistic
world of his father, a graphic designer
it was only natural that he should take
an interest in visual arts and began
his career in advertising as a layout artist
before becoming an art director
specialising in corporate design at DDB.
2007 marked a turning point for the artist.
Fuelled by his extensive travels, he wrote
his first movie screenplay and conceived
several photographic series between
New York and Mexico. For over two years,
Cédric Bourgeois immersed himself
in the neighbourhoods of Mexico city
and produced a number of photographic series
(Bitter Concrete, Window Of The Courtyard,
Human Condition etc.) before continuing
his experiments with the Hasselblad 500 C/M,
particularly in the lush, primary forests
of Latin America (Costa Rica, Colombia),
and most recently in raw nature of Japan.
After a year of artistic training at IESA,
Paris, from 2022 to 2023, Cédric Bourgeois
is currently exploring his work in order
to initiate a personal approach to the medium
and to open up new perspectives.
“Hugues” honors my father, Christian.
I’ve been coming to the boxing club
for six months now: my body seems
to be adapting, my condition as well.
I go to the gym four to five times a week.
I started with one-hour session.
Now I do two: it’s addictive.
It reminds me of my father, Christian,
and of Guy and Jacques.
20 right, 20 left, 20 right, 20 left,
20 right, 20 left, 20 right, 20 left,
20 right, 20 left, 20 right...
it stinks in here, smells of sweat —
left, right, left, right, left, right,
left, right, left, right, left, right,
left, right, left, right...
My heart is racing, my hearing
is sharpening, the speed bag bounces
between my fists and its varnished
wood base. My trainer Carlos keeps
a close eye on me. He looks like
Jacques: tough as stone, rough.
This morning, he noticed I’m fasting,
my cheeks sunken, my complexion pale.
I’m lost in my thoughts. I’m thinking
about contact prints, the series
to come, the mistakes that have been
made: I’m obsessed.
I’ve spent two weeks getting ready
for tonight... During the day, the ciudad
is a big organized mess; it oozes
with life at every street corner.
At night, it’s dangerous. I like it.
Boxing serves as a mediator; it grounds me.
Tonight, it’s Cuitlahuac.
The streets look like a movie set.
I’ve got film in my pocket. Objective:
the stars.
© 2010 Cédric Bourgeois
Behind the Playground,
IESA Arts & Culture Gallery, Paris, 2022-2023
Exploring our relationship
with space, attention, and time,
revealing how the sensitive
contemporary world unfolds around us.
Sur la Route 33’,
André Malraux Cultural Center
(Maison pour Tous), Le Pecq, 2010-2011
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
Insideman, 2025
Based on works produced in Colombia
(2018) & Costa Rica (2022).
Artistic direction and curatorial
text developed in collaboration
with Jérémy Billault (2024–2025).
Tresortown, 2024-2025
Project developed from the Retro
Mexico corpus (2007–2009).
RESEARCH / ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
Retro Mexico, 2007–2009
Foundational period during which
the artist’s universe
and photographic language took
shape, exploring both urban
and natural environments.
The 8th, Feature Film Project, Altermédia, 2007
Narrative framework that informed
subsequent photographic work.
Japan, 2025
– This City
– À l’État brut
– Au Centre
United Kingdom, 2023
– Interlude
Costa Rica, 2022
– À l’Essentiel
Colombia, 2018
– La Sierra Madre
United States – New York City, 2007, 2014
– On And On
– Beat esquissé
France – Paris & Reunion Island, 1996-2013
– Brut d’état
– Au Naturel
Belgium, 2011
– Arrosée
Mexico 2007–2009 – The first color series
Hasselblad 500 C/M
– Window On The Courtyard
– Human Condition
– Rough Step
– Cinéma plein Air
– Bitter Concrete
– Jouer Aux Dames
– The Raza
– Travelling (part one/two)
China, 2005
– Initiatique
Malaysia, 1995 – The first black & white
Pentax 50mm analog reflex
For inquiries and prints
cedric.hugues@yahoo.fr
@cedricbourgeois_
© Cédric Bourgeois — All rights reserved