The making of Kyotographie International Photography Festival

Learn firsthand about the origins and evolution of the Kyotographie International Photography Festival from its co-founders, Lucille Reyboz and Nakanishi Yūsuke, whose art direction also shaped the Japan House London exhibition Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai.

Founded in 2013, Kyotographie is an annual international photography festival held each spring in Kyoto. It transforms historic temples, machiya townhouses, modern galleries and industrial sites into immersive exhibition venues, presenting contemporary photography from around the world in dialogue with Japanese heritage.

In this talk, the festival’s founders discuss their curatorial approach and the processes behind developing the festival’s exhibitions and events. They are joined by their long-time collaborator Konishi Hiromitsu, the creative mind responsible for reshaping Kyoto’s urban and architectural spaces for the festival.

This year, Lucille Reyboz and Nakanishi Yūsuke were recognised for their achievements as Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

Directed by the festival’s founding duo, Japan House London’s exhibition Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai is on display in the Gallery from 3 June until 18 October 2026.

Please note that filming and / or photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please or contact a member of the team on site.

About the speaker

Lucille Reyboz
Lucille Reyboz is a Kyoto-based photographer, co-founder and co-director of Kyotographie International Photography Festival and Kyotophonie Borderless Music Festival.

Born in 1973, Lucille Reyboz began her photographic practice in West Africa, where she spent her childhood. She first came to Japan in 1999. Through her collaboration with Salif Keita, she also participated in the production of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s opera Life.

As a portrait photographer, Reyboz has created numerous record covers for prestigious labels such as Blue Note and Verve. Her major solo exhibitions include Batammaba Bâtisseurs d’Univers (Visa pour l’Image, 2001), Source (Phillips de Pury, New York, 2007), and Belles de Bamako (Chanel Nexus Hall, Tokyo, 2011).

Nakanishi Yūsuke
Nakanishi Yūsuke is a lighting designer, co-founder and co-director of Kyotographie International Photography Festival and Kyotophonie Borderless Music Festival.He was born in 1968. His work as a lighting designer is shaped by his travels around the world, translating memories of light and shadow into immersive visual experiences. He has created lighting designs across a wide range of fields, including film, theatre, concerts, fashion shows, and interior design. He lives and works in Kyoto.
Hiromitsu Konishi
Hiromitsu Konishi is a Kyoto-based spatial designer whose practice is rooted in craftsmanship, materiality, and Japanese aesthetics. After studying art in New York, he returned to Japan with a renewed perspective on cultural identity and design. In 2010, he established his studio in Kyoto, where he develops spatial projects that balance tradition and contemporary sensibility through close collaboration with artisans.

Image: © ARAKAWA KOSUKE

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Japan House London