Wayne F. Miller: Photographs 1942-1958
January 7 - February 21, 2009Exhibition Information | Biography
“If the best of [Miller’s] photographs are placed together they constitute not only a powerful record of American hopes and tragedies during the middle of the last century, but a vision that evokes an artist’s struggle with darkness while trying to find, both literally and figuratively, the light.”—Fred Ritchin, Professor, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University
Charles A. Hartman Fine Art is honored to present the exhibition Wayne F. Miller: Photographs 1942–1958, concurrent with the release of a new book of the same title. During this nearly two decade span—the most prolific of his career—Miller’s life put him and his lens in the direct path of several events and socio-cultural developments that were shaping the ethos of mid-century America. With his work in museum collections around the world, his photography on view at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art is a very special opportunity for collectors.
After serving as a Lieutenant and combat photographer during World War II—part of the Naval Aviation Unit led by the legendary Edward Steichen—Miller returned to his hometown to shoot postwar images of South Side Chicago, funded by two Guggenheim fellowships. Soon after, he began contributing photography to magazines such as Life, Fortune and Collier’s. In 1954, Miller worked with Steichen again. This time as his curatorial assistant, as well as a contributing photographer, for the groundbreaking Family of Man exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Miller served as chairman of the American Society of Media Photographers and was also President of the Magnum Photos cooperative. His environmental activism emerged in the 1960s, and in 1975, he retired to devote himself to the protection of forests. Now ninety, he resides in California.
Charles A. Hartman Fine Art is honored to present the exhibition Wayne F. Miller: Photographs 1942–1958, concurrent with the release of a new book of the same title. During this nearly two decade span—the most prolific of his career—Miller’s life put him and his lens in the direct path of several events and socio-cultural developments that were shaping the ethos of mid-century America. With his work in museum collections around the world, his photography on view at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art is a very special opportunity for collectors.
After serving as a Lieutenant and combat photographer during World War II—part of the Naval Aviation Unit led by the legendary Edward Steichen—Miller returned to his hometown to shoot postwar images of South Side Chicago, funded by two Guggenheim fellowships. Soon after, he began contributing photography to magazines such as Life, Fortune and Collier’s. In 1954, Miller worked with Steichen again. This time as his curatorial assistant, as well as a contributing photographer, for the groundbreaking Family of Man exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Miller served as chairman of the American Society of Media Photographers and was also President of the Magnum Photos cooperative. His environmental activism emerged in the 1960s, and in 1975, he retired to devote himself to the protection of forests. Now ninety, he resides in California.