Duane Michals

Duane Stephen Michals is an artistic prodigy when it comes to the aesthetically daring realm of creative photography. 

A fellow University of Denver alumnus, Michaels went on to continue his studies at the Parsons School of Design in Greenwich Village, New York--though his sole focus at the time was in graphic design. Finding questionable solace in the United States Navy after his incompletion at Parsons, it wasn't until a holiday well-spent in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics(USSR)when Michals first discovered his innate passion for photography, the photos of his trip coincidentally comprising his first exhibition of works at the Underground Gallery in 1963. 

Known for his innovative story-telling photographic sequence series with hand-written, descriptive text, Michals' work is a captivating mix of literary and philosophical visual portrayals of his ideas relating to the subjects of death, emotions, gender, and sexuality.     

"No American has the right to impose his private morality on any other American."

"Christ cries when he sees a young woman who has died during an illegal abortion."

"Frederika wanders across the field at dusk looking for the moon. The wandering moon crosses the sky looking for Frederika."