Matthew Brookes
Biography
Born in England, raised in South Africa, it was in Paris that Matthew Brookes first discovered his passion for photography. The allure of the city had a profound influence on his aesthetic as a photographer.
Aside from working with celebrities and models Brookes also enjoys photographing athletes and dancers as he is fascinated in the human form and movement. In 2015 he published “Les Danseurs”, a series of photographs of the ballet dancers of the Opera de Paris.
Matthew Brookes likes to find the emotion in his subjects before he photographs them because for him it’s as much about what he feels when they are in front his lens as to what he sees. Its about scratching below the surface and finding the real person in each portrait he creates, rather than the image the subject might feel they should project.
Brookes’ portraits feature in a wide range of publications –Vanity Fair, Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, The New York Times’ T Magazine, Interview, British Vogue, etc
Matthew Brookes works closely with a variety of luxury brands including Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Breitling, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Berluti, David Yurman, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Trussardi, Zegna, etc
He divides his time between Paris, Los Angeles and New York.
In 2021, Matthew Brookes published “Into the Wild, a vibrant celebration of surf life. For this project, Brookes followed a group of young surfers from Venice Beach on their adventures up and down the coast. The result is a story of van culture along the California coast—a story of youth choosing to follow their dreams, living out of vans, existing for surf and travel and freedom, and always chasing the best waves. The documentary-style photographs are typical of Brookes’ work, with ethereal shots punctuating more naturalistic photos.
In 2022, Matthew Brooke’s first solo exhibition at La Caserne in Paris, called “Togetherness” talks about the spirit of connection and love between all kinds of couples with as much diversity as possible.
Matthew Brookes’ third book “Expression of Freedom” published by Damiani was released in November 2024.
L.A. Heroes is the second solo exhibition at La Caserne in Paris.
Through intimate portraits, this exhibition honors the firefighters and
community members who exemplified bravery and unity.
Matthew Brookes is working on his fourth book which will be paired with an exhibition.
Latest Announcements
“Expression of Freedom” Book| Matthew Brookes | Damiani | available November 2024
In the last ten years, Brookes traveled across four continents for this grand photographic project, capturing dancers in motion within their geographic contexts—Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, South Africa, New York, Brazil and Los Angeles.
'Expression of Freedom' by Matthew Brookes is available for pre-order now on damianibooks.com
Selected works
See AllExhibitions
L.A. HEROES
Photographs by Matthew Brookes
LA CASERNE, Paris – Opening June 28, 2025
In January 2025, Los Angeles faced one of its most devastating wildfire
seasons in recent history. Fueled by prolonged drought conditions and
hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, the Palisades and Eaton Fires ravaged
communities across the region, including Malibu, Altadena, and Pasadena.
These fires destroyed over 16,000 structures, claimed dozens of lives, and
displaced more than 200,000 residents.
Amidst this catastrophe, a remarkable narrative of resilience and unity
emerged. Professional firefighters from local stations and volunteer groups like
“The Community Brigade” stood shoulder to shoulder, battling the infernos and
protecting their neighborhoods. Their collective efforts became a testament to
human courage and solidarity in the face of overwhelming adversity.L.A. HEROES is the third installment in photographer Matthew Brookes’
exploration of Los Angeles’ communal spirit. His journey began with
Togetherness, an exhibition that delved into post-pandemic relationships in
Venice Beach, celebrating the renewed connections among diverse couples.
He then continued with Into the Wild, a book and exhibition that documented
the lives of young surfers who embraced van life along the California coast,
seeking freedom and adventure in the wake of lockdown. Now, Brookes turns
his lens to the heroes of the wildfires. Having lived near one of the major fire
zones, his connection to the subject is both personal and profound.
Through intimate portraits, this exhibition honors the firefighters and
community members who exemplified bravery and unity. Each image captures
the essence of individuals who, in the face of nature’s fury, chose action over
despair.
By presenting these stories in Paris, within the historic walls of La Caserne—
a former fire station—L.A. HEROES bridges continents, reminding us of the
universal values of courage, community, and hope.
Note: The exhibition opens on June 28, 2025, at La Caserne, Paris. We invite
you to witness these powerful narratives of heroism and resilience.
Togetherness
Books
Into the Wild is a vibrant celebration of surf life. For this project, MatthewBrookes followed a group of young surfers from Venice Beach on their adventures up and down the coast. The result is a story of van culture along the California coast—a story of youth choosing to follow their dreams, living out of vans, existing for surf and travel and freedom, and always chasing the best waves. The documentary-style photographs are typical of Brookes’ work, with ethereal shots punctuating more naturalistic photos.
Les Danseurs
2015
“Les danseurs” is an examination of the raw male physicality of Parisian ballet dancers. Brookes studied these dancers for a year, removing them from their usual environment, and asking them to act as though they were birds falling from the sky, to capture this series of breathtakingly original images. (Another magazine)
Expression of Freedom
2024
An homage to melliferous, unifying art of dance, as captured over the course of 10 years and across four continents
A follow-up to the photographer Matthew Brookes’ Les Danseurs, published in 2015, Expression of Freedom once again deep-dives into the melliferous world of dance, celebrating the togetherness and inclusivity found through the art form. In the last 10 years, Brookes traveled across four continents for this grand photographic project, capturing dancers in motion within their geographic contexts—Paris, Milan, London, South Africa, New York, Brazil and Los Angeles. The dancers showcased are representative of a diverse array of backgrounds and ages; acclaimed professionals share space with street performers.
Dancers include: Marie-Agnes Gillot, Aurelie Dupont, Roberto Bolle, Friedemann Vogel, Hugo Marchand, Germain Louvet, Guillaume Diop, Leroy Mokgatle, Matthew Ball, Megan Lecrone. They are representatives of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, such as the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, La Scala Ballet in Milan, Stuttgart Ballet and the NYC Ballet Company.
Press
Expression of Freedom
