LONDON.- This February, the trailblazing creative duo Ciesay and Soulz of PLACES+FACES will bring their bold and dynamic style to the walls of Sotheby’s with a selling exhibition from 26 February to 4 March, running alongside the company’s Modern and Contemporary preview exhibitions.

The exhibition coincides with the launch of their eagerly awaited new book, Places+Faces, published by IDEA, which will be available to purchase exclusively at Sotheby’s before it officially debuts at Dover Street Market. Both the exhibition and the book are set to provide an intimate behind-the-scenes look at their work over the last decade, featuring a number of photographs that have never-before-been-seen by the public. More than just a retrospective, though, this project is a decade-long visual diary – one that speaks to the broader conversation around the democratization of photography and the pursuit of authenticity in a digital age.

As part of the collaboration, Ciesay and Soulz have transformed Sotheby’s Story Café on the corner of New Bond Street with a special takeover. Reflecting their signature approach to photography, design, and culture, the café will serve as both a gallery and a retail space, offering visitors the chance to purchase exclusive merchandise and limited-edition pieces created just for this collaboration.

"For us, photography is about freezing moments that might otherwise disappear. This exhibition is our way of sharing those moments with the world, in a way that feels true to us. When people look at these photos, I want them to feel like they were there, like they experienced these moments with us." --- Imran Ciesay (Ciesay), Co Founder of PLACES+FACES

"We’ve been fortunate to have access to some of the most creative people in the world. This show is a tribute to those moments, those connections, and the culture we’ve been lucky enough to be a part of." --- Solomon Boyede (Soulz), Co-Founder of PLACES+FACES

CHRONICLING A GENERATION

What began in 2013 as a humble Tumblr blog has since evolved into PLACES+FACES – a visual chronicle of contemporary culture that captures the essence of their generation. Founders Ciesay and Soulz, armed with a camera and an unrelenting passion for creativity, have spent the past decade documenting the raw, behind-the- scenes moments of music, fashion, and nightlife. Their work offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of cultural icons like A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Taylor Russell, Nigo, Kanye West, and Tyler, the Creator.

Spanning their travels across cities like Jakarta, Bangkok, Cuba and Cairo, the duo’s photography not only sheds light on those famous faces that have come to define culture today, but also chronicles authentic interactions with those they have met on their journeys. One photograph, for instance, captures - through a broken mirror – four children sporting boxing gloves in Cuba, while another sees a woman dressed in a PLACES + FACES jersey on horseback in the streets of Accra, Ghana.

Their portfolio also provides a glimpse into unexpected moments, such as a rare Polaroid of Quentin Tarantino taken after a chance encounter at a party, while others document their long-standing relationships with artists such as Skepta, Rihanna, REMA, and Brent Faiyaz. Fittingly, Ciesay shoots with the same Polaroid ‘Big Shot’ camera once used by Andy Warhol, reinforcing the sense of nostalgia and cultural documentation. One particularly poignant piece in the exhibition is the last portrait ever taken of Virgil Abloh, which Ciesay shot in 2021.

For the first ever time, Ciesay and Soulz will be offering all the works on exhibition at Sotheby’s for immediate purchase. Their book, Places+Faces will also be available to buy from Sotheby’s Story Café. RRP £60.

SOTHEBY’S LATE

In celebration of the collaboration, Ciesay and Soulz will host Sotheby’s Late event on 27 February, offering guests a chance to experience the duo’s creative energy up close. Ciesay and Soulz will perform a DJ set, giving a preview of their upcoming appearance at Coachella in April, marking a new chapter in their careers.

EXCLUSIVE SOTHEBY’S MERCH

As part of this collaboration Sotheby’s will offer exclusive PLACES+FACES x Sotheby’s merchandise: a duo-chrome graphic t-shirt (RRP £50) and a collectible bag (RRP £45). These limited edition pieces will be available for purchase at Sotheby’s Story Café as well as during Sotheby’s Late event or via the PLACES+FACES website.