Sandro Miller

Musée Magazine discusses the exhibition Sandro Miller: I am Papua New Guinea.

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ARF Weekend

Art Daily

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Beautiful/Decay

Chicago Reader promotes Sandro Miller's upcoming exhibition

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Malkovich Series:

At the age of sixteen, upon seeing the work of Irving Penn, Sandro Miller knew he wanted to become a photographer. Mostly self-taught, Sandro relied on books published by many of the great artists canonized in photographic history. Through their pictures, he learned the art of composition, lighting and portraiture. More than 30 years later, with clients ranging from Forbes, GQ and Esquire, to American Express, Coca-Cola and BMW, Sandro has secured his place as one of the top advertising photographers worldwide.

His success in the commercial world allows him to continue his personal projects, which has included working in Cuba, photographing American blues musicians, various dance troupes, and extended endeavors with John Malkovich, his long time friend and collaborator. Sandro first met Malkovich in the late 1990s, while working on a job for Steppenwolf Theater. More than 16 years later, Sandro and John are still collaborating, which can be seen in their latest project, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters.

In 2013, Sandro decided to do a project honoring the men and women whose photographs helped shape his career. After selecting thirty-five images to emulate, Sandro contacted Malkovich, who instantly agreed to participate. When speaking about Malkovich, Sandro states: “John is the most brilliant, prolific person I know. His genius is unparalleled. I can suggest a mood or an idea and within moments, he literally morphs into the character right in front of my eyes. He is so trusting of my work and our process… I’m truly blessed to have him as my friend and collaborator.”

Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters honors photographs that have impacted Sandro. Pieces include Irving Penn’s photograph of Truman Capote in a corner; Bert Stern’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe; Dorothea Lange’s image of a migrant mother; Robert Mapplethorpe’s self-portrait with a gun; Annie Leibovitz’s iconic image of John Lennon and Yoko Ono; Diane Arbus’s classic photo of a boy with a hand grenade; Richard Avedon’s beekeeper, among many others.

John Malkovich is considered to be one the greatest American actors of the 21st century. In Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters, he demonstrates his chameleon-like proclivity, morphing into Albert Einstein, Che Guevara, John Lennon and Andy Warhol. Through his immense skill and Sandro’s amazing photographic eye, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters pays respect to photographic history through the genius of a photographer and his muse.

My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom:

My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom is a celebration of the diversity, artistry, and power of black women’s hair. This project is about highlighting the many ways in which black women embrace their freedom of choice and express their creativity through their hair, no matter the style or texture, whether they wear braids, dreadlocks, weaves, or whether they wear it natural or straightened. With each portrait in this ongoing project, I seek to recognize and honor black women’s power and beauty while celebrating blackness and black lives.

Black women haven’t always enjoyed the freedom to wear their hair as they please. Generally, African Americans have been subjected to centuries of racial hatred and oppression in the United States. And when it comes to hair—historically and to this day—black women have been policed and suppressed in numerous ways, including:

The dehumanizing practice of shaving African women’s hair during slavery, thus erasing signifiers of culture and identity.
A 1786 Louisiana law requiring black women—both enslaved and free—to cover their hair in public.
The expectation that black women conform to European standards of beauty by straightening their hair.
Black girls being sent home from school in 2017, due to school policies that deems their braids “inappropriate.”
Black women losing or being denied jobs because their natural hair is too “unprofessional” for today’s corporate environment.

For reasons such as these, I feel this project is necessary.

I asked each woman who sat for “My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom” to share her personal “hair story” with me. Working with a hair stylist and makeup artist, I was able to achieve a style of hair that my sitter had worn, or would be willing to wear out into the world today. Each woman’s skin was depicted with the same black tone to emphasizes the beauty of blackness, and serve as an equalizer to remove the potential for prejudicial skin color biases, and make hair the focal point. Additionally, my selection of decorative backgrounds was inspired by and includes several African prints. Though some models received striking black backgrounds, I selected the colorful and vibrant patterns for each person based on their individuality and the shapes and colors in their hair.

It has been my mission, for the past forty years, to travel the world photographing people from every culture and walk of life, capturing their beauty and their stories. “My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom” is a very important part of this mission.

His success in the commercial world allows him to continue his personal projects, which has included working in Cuba, photographing American blues musicians, various dance troupes, and extended endeavors with John Malkovich, his long time friend and collaborator. Sandro first met Malkovich in the late 1990s, while working on a job for Steppenwolf Theater. More than 16 years later, Sandro and John are still collaborating, which can be seen in their latest project, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters.

In 2013, Sandro decided to do a project honoring the men and women whose photographs helped shape his career. After selecting thirty-five images to emulate, Sandro contacted Malkovich, who instantly agreed to participate. When speaking about Malkovich, Sandro states: “John is the most brilliant, prolific person I know. His genius is unparalleled. I can suggest a mood or an idea and within moments, he literally morphs into the character right in front of my eyes. He is so trusting of my work and our process… I’m truly blessed to have him as my friend and collaborator.”

Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters honors photographs that have impacted Sandro. Pieces include Irving Penn’s photograph of Truman Capote in a corner; Bert Stern’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe; Dorothea Lange’s image of a migrant mother; Robert Mapplethorpe’s self-portrait with a gun; Annie Leibovitz’s iconic image of John Lennon and Yoko Ono; Diane Arbus’s classic photo of a boy with a hand grenade; Richard Avedon’s beekeeper, among many others.

John Malkovich is considered to be one the greatest American actors of the 21^st century. In Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters, he demonstrates his chameleon-like proclivity, morphing into Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, John Lennon and Andy Warhol. Through his immense skill and Sandro’s amazing photographic eye, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters pays respect to photographic history through the genius of a photographer and his muse.

Images from I Am Papua New Guinea are available as 11 x 14" or 20 x 16" / 16 x 16" and 24 x 20 / 24 x 24" pigment prints made in editions of 10 + 2 AP's and 5 + 2 AP's, respectively. Pieces can be printed black and white or color within the edition. Pieces range in price from $ 2200 to $ 4200 depending on size and availability. Prints mounted on aluminum are available as 40 x 53” in an edition of three for $7500. Backlit pieces are available as commissions, prices vary depending on size and availability.

Images from My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom are available as 20 x 15" and 50 x 37½" pigment prints made in editions of 15 + 3 AP's and 3 + 1 AP, respectively. Pieces range in price from $2400 to $12,000, depending on size and availability.

Images from Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters are pigments prints made in a total edition of 35 + 5 AP's. Pieces range in price from $3,200 to $12,000, depending on size and availability.

Warhol silkscreens from Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters are available as 28 x 28" and 36 x 36" silkscreens made in editions of 35 + 5 AP's and 10, respectively. Pieces range in price from $9,500 to $22,000, depending on size and availability.

Images from Psychogenic Fugue are available as 11 x 14" and 20 x 24" pigment prints made in editions of 25 and 25, respectively. Pieces range in price from $2200 to $4500, depending on size and availability. Some images are available as 40 x 60" pigment prints for $18,000.

Please call: (312) 266-2350 for prices of specific pieces.
Prices are print only unless otherwise indicated.