Photographer Clémence Polès Farhang Captures Women's Stories in 'Passerby' Exhibition

The decade-long project featured portraits and interviews with over 300 women from New York, London, Paris, and Los Angeles.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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For the past 10 years, photographer Clémence Polès Farhang has been capturing portraits and stories of women she encounters on city streets through her 'Passerby' project. This week, her first solo exhibition 'Can I Come Over and Take Your Picture?' debuted at Slip House in New York's East Village, displaying 20 framed portraits and a collage of 182 unframed prints featuring her subjects in intimate home settings.

Why it matters

As misogyny has become more prominent, Polès Farhang's project aims to amplify women's voices and experiences, providing a platform for their stories. The exhibition highlights her unique approach of gaining consent to photograph and interview her subjects, creating an intimate and collaborative process that differs from traditional street photography.

The details

Polès Farhang, a self-taught photographer, began 'Passerby' in 2015 as an online archive of portraits and interviews. For the exhibition, she displayed works featuring both well-known artists like Laurie Simmons and Shirin Neshat, as well as everyday women from cities around the world. The largest portrait was of Lexii Foxx, a New York-based sex worker, Black trans activist and performance artist. A collage of 182 unframed prints revealed a pattern of women reclining in their homes.

  • Polès Farhang launched the 'Passerby' project online in 2015.
  • The 'Can I Come Over and Take Your Picture?' exhibition ran from February 16-18, 2026 at Slip House in New York's East Village.
  • An abridged version of the exhibition will be on view into the spring of 2026.

The players

Clémence Polès Farhang

A 36-year-old photographer who launched the 'Passerby' project, a collection of portraits and interviews with women she encounters on city streets.

Laurie Simmons

A well-known artist whose portrait was featured in the exhibition.

Shirin Neshat

A well-known artist whose portrait was featured in the exhibition.

Lexii Foxx

A New York-based sex worker, Black trans activist and performance artist whose portrait was the largest in the exhibition.

Lyudmila Koltonyuk

A hairstylist in an East Village salon who was photographed and interviewed by Polès Farhang for the 'Passerby' project.

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What they’re saying

“There's a simplicity to them that's very honest.”

— Laurie Simmons (The New York Times)

“She's a deeply curious person, and has this incredibly sensitive way of looking into other people and their universe.”

— Shirin Neshat (The New York Times)

“Are you making a mistake? What makes me so special that you would want to go out of your way to interview me and take a photo?”

— Lyudmila Koltonyuk, Hairstylist (The New York Times)

What’s next

An abridged version of the 'Can I Come Over and Take Your Picture?' exhibition will be on view at Slip House into the spring of 2026.

The takeaway

Polès Farhang's 'Passerby' project provides a unique platform for amplifying women's voices and experiences, using an intimate, collaborative approach to street photography that differs from traditional methods. As misogyny persists, her work highlights the importance of centering and celebrating the stories of women.