c.2024michaeljamesobrien
Michael James O’Brien
Michael James O’Brien is a photographer, teacher, curator, poet and activist currently based in Atlanta, GA where he is Chair of Photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design/SCAD.
O’Brien received the B.A. in English Literature from Kenyon College in 1969 & the B.F.A & M.F.A.from Yale University, where he studied with Walker Evans, in 1972.
He has had solo exhibitions in New York, Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong, Antwerp, Istanbul, Liverpool and Savannah GA, in addition to having work in the permanent collections of London’s National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum in Berlin, SCAD Museum of Art & the High Museum in Atlanta.
His work has been featured in publications such as Rolling Stone, Vogue UK, The New Yorker, GQ, Eyemazing, Black & White Photography UK, The Guardian, The Financial Times, Travel & Leisure among many others.
For over 20 years, O’Brien was a member of ACTUP as well as a volunteer for GMHC and Terrence Higgins Trust UK. He was a co-producer of the Love Ball in NYC & Paris, which, over the years, raised more than $3million for people living with HIV/AIDS. He was the Creative Director for DAA/Designers Against Aids in 2011-12 and produced the Live Positive Campaign for the Flemish HIV Awareness organization, SENSOA in 2013.
Curriculum vitae
Academic:
Currently Chair of Photography, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA; Master class, New School for Social Research, NYC, 1981; Associate Professor of Photography, Kenyon College, 1973-1975
Education:
MFA, BFA Photography, Yale University, 1972 (Studied with Walker Evans); BA English Literature and Political Science, Kenyon College, 1969; Durham University, UK: non-degree, 1967-68
Editorial (selected):
The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, GQ US, GQ UK, The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Vogue UK, L’Uomo Vogue, Interview, Elle Décor, Departures, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler UK, Io Donna, Donna, Financial Times, Intelligent Life, Zoo, Black and White Photography UK, Sang Bleu, The Guardian, Frieze, Eyemazing.
Commercial Commissions (selected):
Polo Ralph Lauren, Illy Caffe, Penhaligon’s London, L’Artisan Parfumeur, Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamps, Thierry Mugler, Piazza Sempione, Malo, TBWA, Ararat Cognac, Nautica, Bergdorf Goodman
Matthew Barney:
All still photography for Drawing Restraint 7, Cremaster 1,2,4,5. 1993-2003. This work has been shown at the Musee Moderne, Paris, 2002, Guggenheim NY, 2003 & throughout the world.
Solo Photography Exhibitions (selected):
We Have Translated Each Other Into Light, Gutstein Gallery, Savannah GA 2018; His Tender Heir Look/17 The Gallery Liverpool April, 2017; Girlfriend , Liverpool International Photography Festival May, 2015; Diptychs, Eyeloco, Antwerp, February, 2015; Municipality of Beyoglu, Istanbul, August 2014; Joyce Gallery, Hong Kong, September-November, 2013; Regeneration, Municipality of Istanbul, June 2013; Joyce Gallery, Beijing, 2012; Hermes, New York, 2007; Galerie 213, Paris, 2004 & 2005; Piazza Sempione, Milan, 1998; Assembling Gender, Exit Art, New York, 1994
Group Exhibitions (selected):
+The Storm, Miami Basel December 2024 +MoNo, ExtractArt Berlin Fall, 2023 +Likewise, SCAD MOA Summer-Fall, 2024 +Starlight, The Art Design Project Miami, 2022 +Galerie Nomade, Brussels, 2021 +Borrowed Light, Mason Fine Art, Atlanta, 2018 +Creative Rage, Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2018; +Breaking Myth, Museo d’Aumale, Palermo, Italy 2018; +Figure/Ground, Gutstein Gallery, Savannah, GA 2018; +Open Studio, SCAD Atlanta November, 2015, 2016,2017,2018; +Galerie Emilie Dujat, Brussels, 2012, 2013; +Indian Caps, Antwerp, 2010; +Artphotoexpo, Art Miami/Basel curated by Marion de Beaupre, 2007; +Noovo, Santiago de Compostello, 2007; +Holden Luntz Gallery, Ongoing
Publications (selected):
Girlfriend; Men, Women & Drag; Photographs with text by Holly Brubach, Random House, 2000.
Co-editor, Designers Against Aids; the First Decade, Published by Ludion Press, Brussels, 2010
An accomplished & published poet O’Brien is editor-at-large of the print & online poetry magazine Verbal Abuse since 1993.
He has read his work at Jackie 60, The Nuyorican, Bowery Poetry, Cabaret Magique,The Groucho Club London, Society Club London.
2006-2016: Contributing Editor, Departures Magazine
Professional:
Chez EsSaada: Owner of the restaurant/Bar NYC, 1997-2004.
Curation (selected):
+Editor, Class of ’24 published Thames & Hudson 2023/2024; +LeicaXSCAD Partnership 2023/2024; +Arte Laguna Prize, Venice, 2023/2024; +Jury Member, Run for Art, Accademia Olimpica Nazionale Italiana,2023 +Fall Fine Arts Showcase, Savannah, 2023; +Spring Showcase, SCAD Savannah, 2023; +Co-Curator, Photo London SCAD Exhibition 2023 +Spring Forward, SCAD Atlanta, 2022; +Parity, SCAD Atlanta & Savannah 2022; +Co-producer SCAD at Photo London, 2021; +Co-Curator Taking Shape, SCAD Savannah & Atlanta 2021; +Curator High Visibility, 2020; +Co-curator Rest(Less) 2020; +Co-producer, SCAD at Photo London Virtual, 2020; +Co-producer SCAD at Photo London, 2019; +Aura and Invention, Trois Gallery, SCAD, 2019; +Rebel Rebel, Trois Gallery SCAD Atlanta, 2018; +This Land is Your Land, Trois Gallery, 2017; +Co-curator, Solos, SCAD BFA Show, May 2017; +Co-curator Revelateur, Mason Fine Art, Atlanta,2017; +Curator, Passages, Lovett School, Atlanta, 2015; +Curator, Persona, Trois Gallery, Atlanta,2015.
Lectures (selected):
Breaking Myth, Palermo, 2018
Spotlight Lecture Atlanta Celebrates Photography, Atlanta, October,2017;
Artspeak SCAD Atlanta, February, 2017;
Artist’s Talk, Hugh Baird University, Liverpool, April, 2017;
Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, July, 2016;
Permanent Collections:
National Museums of Berlin;
National Portrait Gallery, London;
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio;
Joyce Holdings, Beijing;
Savannah College of Art & Design
Memberships:
Chair, Advisory Board, Atlanta Celebrates Photography;
Member, Society for Photographic Education;
Member, London Photographic Association;
Member, Yale Club of Georgia