About a photographer.

Duane Michals.

While researching sequence photography authors, my attention was drawn to Duane Michals. There are elements of enigma in his black and white photography, portraits full of emotions, beautiful, and thrilling stories.  

Duene Michals was born in 1932 in Pennsylvania. His work has been recognized in the world since the 1960s. He has been working with stars, and is known for photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, Sting, Andy Warchol and many other celebrities. 

Michals, D. (1982) Sting.

Michals didn't work in his studio, he used to photograph his models in their apartments, in their natural environment. This was described as quite unique at the time. He used to visit Andy Warchol in his family home in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania where a very well-known photograph of Warchol's mother, Julia Warchola was taken.  'She was a nice little eastern European lady, a babushka, you'd look in the kitchen and she was there making a soup' says Michals (Michals, D. 2021). 

Michals, D. Fabulous 

The sequential photographs I would like to present are portraits of Andy Warchol, which I found interesting. Warchol was photographed by Michals on multiple occasions, but there is one set of sequential photographs that catches my eye. Michals states 'When I photographed Warhol, the portrait was in the character, the mystery—if there is one—of Warhol.' (Michals, D, 2014). When I look at these photographs, they make me wonder what Warchol was thinking about, he looks concerned about something.  

Andy Warchol was an American pop art artist. Born in 1928, in Pennsylvania as Ondrej Warchola, to a family of eastern European roots. He dropped A of his surname, to make it sound less eastern. He traveled the world; his travels shaped his life and art. Warchol passed away in 1987 in New York. 

                                    Michals, D. Andy Warhol (Warhol 360), c. 1975-80

Duane Michals exhibition

References:

Bohnacker, S. (2014) The Last Sentimentalist: Q. & A. with Duane Michals. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-last-sentimentalist-q-a-with-duane-michals (accested 25/10/2023) 

Cacouris, C. (2021) Duane Michals unlocks his Andy Warchol archive.Available at: https://www.blind-magazine.com/en/stories/duane-michals-unlocks-his-andy-warhol-archive/ (accesed: 28/10/2023).

Michals, D. (1982) Sting. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/duane-michalss-beguiling-celebrity-portraits (Accessed: 27/10/2023).

Crocker Art Museum (2018), Celebrity portraits by legendary photographer Duane Michals opening at the Crocker this September, Available from: https://www.crockerart.org/press/Michals-Exhibition (accesed: 28/10/2023)