Michael James O’Brien Photography

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. MJO, 2021 Michael James O’Brien draws i...

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

“If two people remember your name, then you’ve left a mark. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.” - Dorian Corey. Men, Women, and...

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural commentary. O’Brien's photographss highlig his ability to capture the human experience with depth and nuance. His involvement in activism, particularly with HIV/AIDS awareness and support, further informs his artistic perspective, making his work both impactful and deeply personal. Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural commentary. O'Brien produced a diverse body of photographic work, from still lifes and portraits to art documentation. He still uses film and works in medium and large formats. His themes are not classical, the artist prefers to portray extraordiary beuty, transgender people and still lifes. The artist's images have a sense of discovery and loss; absence and presence. From the Series Girlfriend Printed on Hahnemuhle fine art photo rag paper Dimension for each print is 22 in. H x 17 in. W (The overall size composition of the entire portfolio is: 66 in. H x 51 in. W) Limited Edition of 10 + 2AP All these portraits were made on tri-x BW film with a Pentax 6 x 7 photographed in Natural Light. 1. Lavinia (Girlfriend), NYC, 1992 “I came to Manhattan with just a handbag” - Lavinia Co-op 2. Ebony Jet (Girlfriend), NYC, 1992 “We’re all born naked, everything else is drag” - RuPaul Charles 3. Miss Guy (Girlfriend), NYC, 1992 “You’ve got your mother in a whirl; she’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl.” - David Bowie, Rebel, Rebel 4. Ming Vauze (Benjamin Liu) NYC, 1992 “Impersonation is the supreme act of creation.” - Yukio Mishima...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

“No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist” - Oscar Wilde Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a ph...

“They will roll down the rugs or sprawl carefully on coaches. Their make-up will be perfect. They will take back the night.”  - Chi Chi Valenti, Take Back the Night Men, Women, and ...

“Who would not sing for Lycidas” -John Milton A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own...

“He left Phoenix in the morning, in the early dawning moments when the world is purple; and he saw on the highway, bands of spectral birds clustered on the pavement searching for God...

“Nobody wakes up looking like Dietrich or Garbo” - Kabuki Starshine Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work of...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

“One afternoon at four o’clock we separated for a week only…And then—that week became forever.” -C.P. Cavafy, The Afternoon Sun A combination of analogue and digital compositions b...

A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. MJO, 2021 Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural commentary. O'Brien produced a diverse body of photographic work, from still lifes and portraits to art documentation. He still uses film and works in medium and large formats. His themes are not classical, the artist prefers to portray extraordiary beuty, transgender people and still lifes. The artist's images have a sense of discovery and loss; absence and presence. From In Spite of Dreams Series Printed on Hahnemuhle fine art paper Dimension for each print is 20 in. H x 30 in. W The overall size composition of the entire portfolio is: 60 in. H x 60 in. W) Limited Edition of 10 + 2AP A combination of analog and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. 1. The Fall of Icarus (Diptych), 2013-2018 “Drawn on by his eagerness for the open sky, he left his guide and soared upwards…” -Ovid, The Fall of Icarus 2. Lycidas (Diptych), n.d. “Who would not sing for Lycidas” -John Milton, Lycidas 3. The Ides of March...

Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

Photographer Michael James O'Brien documented with beautiful and unique images the final part of Matthew Barney's lyric opera cycle about a tragic love story set in romantic Budapest...

60 H x 40 w in Edition of 9 + 2AP Archival Pigment prints Printed on Hahnemuhle fine art paper Edition of 20 + 2AP

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant subtleties of the flowers, creating an appealing tension. These compositions invite the viewer to explore themes of balance and contrast, through a delicate but imposing presentation. Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural commentary. O'Brien produced a diverse body of photographic work, from still lifes and portraits to art documentation. He still uses film and works in medium and large formats. His themes are not classical, the artist prefers to portray extraordiary beuty, transgender people and still lifes. The artist's images have a sense of discovery and loss; absence and presence. From the Series Opalina Archival Pigment prints Printed on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper Dimension for each print is 22 in. H x 17 in. W (The overall size composition of the entire portfolio is: 66 in. H x 51 in. W) Limited Edition of 20 + 2AP All these photos are digital Still Life Photographs 1. Still life with Two Opalina Vases and Two Tulips, Antwerp, 2013 2. Still life with a Turquoise Opalina Vase and a Tulip Bulb, Antwerp, 2011 3. Still life with a White Tulip and a Green Opalina Vase, Antwerp, 2012 4. Still Life with Tulips and 5 Opalina Vases, Antwerp, 2012 5. Still life with Books...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

“So the object brings the subject to life not in its relative presence, but in its irreducible absence.” - Jean Baudrillaud, Integral Reality Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration...

“Holly came from Miami, F-L-A, Hitchhiked her way across the USA. Plucked her eyebrows on the way; shaved her legs and then he was a she. She said, ‘Hey, Babe, take a walk on the wil...

“We are living in a hall of mirrors. In drag, we witness the triumph of illusion.” - Holly Brubach & Michael James O’Brien Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse...

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural ...

A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. MJO, 2021 Michael James O’Brien draws i...

A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. MJO, 2021 Michael James O’Brien draws i...

A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. MJO, 2021 Michael James O’Brien draws i...

A combination of analogue and digital compositions based on ideas from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, deconstructed and subverted to my own narrative. MJO, 2021 Michael James O’Brien draws i...