GERVAISE SOEUROUGE / NOT FADE AWAY
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GERVAISE SOEUROUGE / NOT FADE AWAY opens at U.N.O. St Claude Gallery March 14, 2026, as the first exhibition of the archives of Louisiana-born live music photographer Gervaise Soeurouge. This exhibition features her archival photographs, slides, contact sheets, negatives, test prints, a video installation, and enlarged reprints of proto-punk, punk, punk-adjacent bands, and other musicians. This roster includes The Slits, Link Wray, The Specials, Iggy Pop, CRASS, The Clash, The Selecter, David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, Television, Jayne County, The Jam, Jimmy Pursey, Gang of Four, Buzzcocks, Bauhaus, Richard Hell, an early UK Rock Against Racism show, and more, photographed in New York, Montreal, London/UK, and The Sex Pistols second-to-last performance ever at the Kingfish club in Baton Rouge in 1978. Gervaise’s inventory – probably very truncated – provides a window into new music between the late 1970’s to the early ‘80’s.
Easily pivoting between sub-genres and scenes, Soeurouge’s aperture remained curious, seeking out the likes of Frank Zappa, Mose Allison, and then Willie Nelson as well, whose home number appeared in her legendary little red book, now missing. She was the tour photographer for Sham 69, taught emerging JVC video technology at Montreal’s Concordia University, and made videos for women artists such as Susan Hiller in London. For a while, she was a part of the emerging East Village art scene that birthed, destroyed, and established many art stars; there she lived with Gracie Mansion gallerist and curator Sur Rodney Sur on St. Marks Place. This exhibition includes Soeurouge’s NYC-expressionist portrait painted by artist Susan Stolz.
You might already unknowingly know Gervaise’s work for her uncredited second cameraperson role at Woodstock and photography and graphic design on record covers and promo material for The Buzzcocks, The Cure, etc. Her life unfolds retroactively in the exhibition’s photos and stories from friends. Soeurouge’s last years were spent sliding deeper into dementia at her Burgundy Street home with husband Edi Chin, musician and bass player in The Tourists. As her memory faded, evidence of her peripatetic photographer life remained intact in cardboard boxes, plastic grocery bags, and manila envelopes spread across the UK, Spain, and New Orleans. It was by chance or spirit that her archives made themselves known during a sales call for an estate sale. GERVAISE SOEUROUGE / NOT FADE AWAY asks what is an archive, anyway? Sincere gratitude to Faun Fenderson, Sur Rodney Sur, and Susan Stolz for sharing your stories. May your friend’s spirit live on in the pictures. This exhibition is curated by Veronica Cross. Huge thanks to the friends and estate of Gervaise Soeurouge, especially to Faun Fenderson, for greenlighting this project and to Tony Campbell at U.N.O.
Gervaise’s archives are activated in the exhibition’s programming, creating a continuum of alternative, experimental, punk, and often socially conscious music. Our friends at 309 Punk Project join for performance and discussions during the show’s timeline:
3/18 7PM 309 Punk Project Road Show w Aaron Cometbus + Scott Satterwhite, special guests Miss Pussycat & The Official La Reina
3/21 6PM panel discussion w. Skip Bolen, Beau Patrick Coulon (Revel + Revolt), Rodrigo Delgado
3/27 6PM interview w Dan Fox of ANTIGRAVITY mag
*masks will be available for all events
This exhibition runs through April 5, 2026, and is open Saturdays and Sundays 12-5 pm.
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Exhibition Dates: March 14th through April 5th.
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 14th, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 or by appointment
UNO St. Claude Gallery | 2429 St. Claude Avenue
If you would like more information about this exhibition, please email UNO Gallery Director, Tony Campbell, apcampbe@uno.edu
Gervaise Soeurouge, "The Slits. Acklam Hall,1978", inkjet print from slide, 1978
Gervaise Soeurouge with Kathryn Kennedy, "Sex Pistols Memorial Issue, Sheets 1 + 2", inkjet print, 1981
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