Two American Universities Visit the Maison Niépce
In May 2025, the Maison Nicéphore Niépce had the honor of welcoming two American delegations in quick succession, both eager to explore the very birthplace of photography – a fitting tribute as we celebrate the bicentennial of its invention.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 – The Pennsylvania State University
The Maison Niépce had the privilege of hosting Lonnie Graham, renowned photographer and professor at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State, USA), together with 5 of his students.
The visit gave rise to a particularly rich moment of exchange, shaped by curiosity, cross-cultural dialogue, and a shared passion for the image and its history. Engaging in the very place where Nicéphore Niépce carried out his earliest experiments, offered the students a truly unique experience – one where contemporary creation meets the living memory of a groundbreaking heritage.
Our warmest thanks to Lonnie Graham and his students for their visit and their enthusiasm.
The Maison Niépce is proud to share this heritage with photography lovers from around the world.
Friday, May 23, 2025 – Utah Valley University
Just a few days later, the Maison Niépce was delighted to welcome a group of faculty and students from Utah Valley University (UVU), an American university widely recognized for the quality of its programs in art and photography.
The program for this special visit included a tour of the house where it all began, a presentation of the collections, and enriching discussions around the creative genius of Nicéphore Niépce and his pioneering work. It was an opportunity for our visitors to immerse themselves in the remarkable story that gave rise to photography, two centuries after Niépce’s invention.
A heartfelt thank you to UVU for their visit and their enthusiasm – the Maison Niépce continues to inspire far beyond our borders.
A Place of Memory and Transmission
These two visits are a testament to the international reach of the Maison Niépce, a unique site of memory, transmission, and inspiration.
In this bicentennial year, the Maison remains, more than ever, an essential destination for students, researchers, and photography enthusiasts from all over the world – drawn here to pay tribute to the birthplace of an invention that forever changed our relationship with images, and with the world itself.
