Duane Michals
Explore the life and work of American photographer Duane Michals (born February 18, 1932) — his innovations in narrative photography, his philosophical approach, and inspiring quotes that reflect his view of the image and the unseen.
Introduction
Duane Michals is a pioneering American photographer who redefined what photography can do. Rather than simply documenting visual reality, Michals uses sequences of images, handwritten text, multiple exposures, and staged “fictionettes” to explore memory, identity, mortality, and the unseen realm of emotions and imagination. His work asks more questions than it answers, inviting the viewer to dwell in mystery.
Born on February 18, 1932 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Michals’ journey into photography was unconventional—self-taught, intuitive, and deeply intellectual. Over decades, he has challenged the norms of the medium and expanded what we expect from a photograph.
In this article, we trace his early life, artistic development, signature techniques, impact and legacy, personality and style, a selection of his memorable quotes, and lessons we can draw from his path.
Early Life and Family
Duane Stephen Michals was born and raised in a working-class family in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
From an early age, Michals was drawn to the arts. At age 14, he attended watercolor classes at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, which nurtured his sensitivity to visual expression.
Education & Formative Years
In 1953, Michals earned a B.A. at the University of Denver. Parsons School of Design in New York in 1956 with an eye toward graphic design—but he did not complete the program.
His photographic education was largely self-directed. He later admitted that not having formally studied photography freed him from conventions and allowed a more imaginative approach.
A turning point came during a holiday in the Soviet Union in 1958: Michals began to take photographs of people he met, which ignited his passion for the medium.
By 1963, he held his first solo show at the Underground Gallery, New York, showcasing his USSR imagery.
Career & Artistic Innovations
Commercial Work & Portraiture
To support himself, Michals worked as a commercial photographer and portraitist, contributing to magazines such as Esquire and Mademoiselle. Vogue during the filming of The Great Gatsby (1974).
Unlike many contemporaries, Michals did not maintain a studio; instead, he preferred to photograph subjects in their environments, imbuing them with context and intimacy.
Narrative Sequences & Text
Michals is best known for his photo sequences—series of images designed to be read in sequence, often suggesting narrative or psychological progression.
He also pioneered the integration of handwritten text alongside images—not merely captions, but poetic or philosophical reflections that enlarge or complicate the visual.
These techniques allowed him to move beyond static representation, introducing layers of memory, introspection, ambiguity, and metaphor.
Some of his well-known series include The Spirit Leaves the Body (1968), Death Comes to the Old Lady (1969), Chance Meeting (1970), Things Are Queer (1973), and others.
Exhibitions & Recognition
Michals’ breakthrough into the fine art world came when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York held his first solo museum exhibition in 1970.
Over the years, his work has been widely exhibited internationally, including retrospectives such as The Illusions of the Photographer at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York.
He has received honors including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, Infinity Award for Art from the International Center of Photography, and others.
Themes & Philosophical Concerns
Michals’ work persistently grapples with mortality, memory, identity, and the unseen. He explores what can’t easily be photographed — emotions, internal states, dreams, passage of time.
He has often critiqued photography’s limitations: that photographs reproduce surface appearances, but do not necessarily penetrate deeper truths.
Michals also addresses the role of the artist’s subjectivity — the personal voice, the internal, the narrative impulse — especially in contrast to objective documentary traditions.
Legacy & Influence
Duane Michals is often regarded as a seminal figure in conceptual photography and narrative visual art. His willingness to blur boundaries between writing and photography has inspired generations of artists who see images not as final statements but as poetic prompts.
His influence is visible in photographers and visual storytellers who incorporate mixed media, text, nonlinear narratives, and layered symbolism.
Though less commercially prominent than some photographers, Michals occupies a revered place within the art photography milieu, especially among audiences interested in introspective, experimental, and philosophically engaged work.
Personality, Style & Approach
Michals is often described as introspective, poetic, and quietly audacious. He is not a showman; rather, his art operates through subtlety, suggestion, and emotional resonance.
He has described much of his work as “whispering” rather than shouting — inviting the viewer into ambiguity rather than demanding immediate clarity.
He values imagination over literal sight: what the mind conceives is as or more important than what the eye sees.
Moreover, he is candid about embracing doubts, imperfection, and mystery in his work.
Selected Quotes by Duane Michals
Here are some memorable quotes that encapsulate his approach and worldview:
“Trust that little voice in your head that says ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if …’ And then do it.”
“I use photography to help me explain my experiences to myself.”
“I believe in the imagination. What I cannot see is infinitely more important than what I can see.”
“Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”
“Photographers tend not to photograph what they can’t see, which is the very reason one should try to attempt it.”
“The question of truth is forever in the air, and people look for it with particular fervor in art.”
“Most portraits are lies. People are rarely what they appear to be, especially in front of a camera.”
“To photograph reality is to photograph nothing.”
These lines capture his skepticism about superficial representation, his belief in inner life, and his conviction that photography must push beyond the visible.
Lessons from Duane Michals’ Path
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Invent your own language
Michals teaches us that tools (camera, text) are only means — what matters is how you bend them toward your vision. He didn’t follow photographic dogma but created his own hybrid form. -
Embrace ambiguity and mystery
Rather than always resolving narrative, Michals often opens questions. Art need not fully explain; it can invite wonder. -
Let personal voice guide you
His work is deeply personal. He shows that the subjective, vulnerable voice can lead to stronger art, not weaker. -
Push beyond visible surface
Michals constantly sought to represent what cannot be seen — memory, feeling, absence. That’s where much of art’s power lies. -
Don’t fear constraints
He turned limitations (self-teaching, absence of formal training) into strength, giving him freedom to experiment. -
Merge mediums thoughtfully
Combining image and text, visual and poetic, Michals shows the potentials of hybrid creative forms.
Conclusion
Duane Michals remains a luminous example of how photography can move beyond documentation into deep exploration of inner life, memory, and mystery. Born in 1932 and still active, he continues to challenge conventions and expand the possible.