I think it’s happened over time… one thing I’ve done with photography is combined it with all other interests I have had in my life to experience or explore them to a greater depth and I think now, it's just come down to photography. – Michael Halsband
Born and raised in New York City, Michael Halsband started photography as a hobby at age ten. At school, almost by chance, he was shown how to make a print from start to finish. Amazed by this process, he ran home and announced to his parents “I’m into photography”. They said, “If you’re into photography in a year, we will buy you a camera”. For a year, Halsband happily printed old family snapshots in the darkroom and understood that true creation takes place there. For him, every step in photography serves getting into the darkroom. As a teen, Halsband attempted to gain admission to The School of Visual Arts with his drawings & paintings. The head of admissions was not impressed with Halsband’s work and asked if he had anything else to show. The next day, Halsband came back with his photography and was immediately accepted into the school.
While attending SVA in 1978, Halsband began professionally photographing portraits for magazine stories and covers. By his third year at SVA, he made enough money to buy his own studio. Some of the people he photographed at that time were: Andy Warhol, Bernice Abbott, David Byrne, Walter Stedding, Glenn Branca, Alan Vega, Bob Guccione, Klaus Nomi and Lydia Lunch and Eight Eyed Spy. Klaus Nomi’s portrait was made in February of 1980, and was part of Halsband’s senior thesis. Klaus showed up with the space-like outfit that had just been made by a costume designer. Nomi wanted Halsband to be the first to photograph him in that outfit because he loved Halsband’s precision. After graduating from SVA in the spring of 1980, he spent several weeks photographing James Brown, Jim Carroll and Peter Tosh and continued to work for magazines like Interview, Avenue and Rolling Stone.
Halsband got an assignment to photograph Keith Richards for the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine in summer of 1981 and consequently ended up The Rolling Stones tour photographer. Upon returning to New York City, he continued pursuing a career in fashion; something he had already been working toward during his time at SVA. He began working for Conde Nast which featured his work in GQ, Self, Vogue, House and Gardens, Glamour and Mademoiselle. In 1985, Halsband created his most iconic photograph, which became the poster of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat with boxing gloves. Halsband spent the next seven years photographing fashion and portraits for various magazines; making album covers for Iggy Pop, The Psychedelic Furs, INXS, Deee-Lite; worked on international ad campaigns for Gap and J.Crew, and created press kits for many designers including Calvin Klein and Adrien Vittadini. Throughout the entire experience, Halsband remained humble. He says,
My heroes [are] sociologists and archaeologists; people who study our cultures – [they] all inspired me to flatten the whole thing and take the glamour out of it…It’s about more than just famous people, since every sitting has to be on level ground, with no one having the upper hand. When I’m photographing, it is about letting what is: be…
In 1986 Halsband began working on what would become a six-year project, underwritten by Danskin, photographing the School of American Ballet. Ballet was not something that initially interested Halsband, but he thought it was very intimate and high-action. It had to be the perfect movement in its perfect moment, in the perfect light; those were Halsband and SAB’s standards. In 1991, he transitioned away from the SAB project into another five-year personal project on nudes and portraits of strippers and sex industry workers. He found there was a lot of repression within nude photography and wanted to be honest in his work. Over time, the sitters would come with their own clothing, slowly peeling them off, and revealing their own fantasies. It became self-portraiture on both sides of the camera.
In 1994, Halsband was hired directly by Al Pacino to document the making of his film, “Looking for Richard”. That same year he began working with The Rolling Stones once again on their Voodoo Lounge tour. Additionally, after years of letter writing to the band’s manager, Halsband was hired to photograph the promotions and advertising for one of his favorite bands: AC/DC. Consequently, he covered their entire Ball Breaker Tour from 1995-1996. In 1999, Halsband traveled to Cuba with Hunter S. Thompson and Johnny Depp for Rolling Stone magazine to document the trip. As a result, Halsband was written into Thompson’s book, “Kingdom of Fear”. In 2000, Halsband got the opportunity to work with AC/DC for a second time on their world tour: Stiff Upper Lip, while continuing to photograph album covers and direct music videos. In 2002, Halsband became a Hasselblad Master and became the recipient of the Telly Award for a TV commercial he directed entitled “Family Shot” for Neil Diamond’s new record.
In summer of 2005, Halsband released a book entitled Surf Book. He began working on this project with surf legend Joel Tudor in 1999. The goal was to document the most technologically and spiritually influential people in surf culture. In addition to capturing still images of surf culture, Halsband began working on a surf film. The film, entitled “Surf Movie: Reels 1-14” released in 2003, was immediately embraced by the art world. The film has been shown in galleries and museums since its release. Additionally, a new surf film shot from 2002-2004 is currently in post-production. Since 2006, Halsband has been making portraits of artists, musicians, surfers and friends in his studio with an 8x10 Camera. Inspired by his daily yoga practice, and eastern philosophy he wanted to see the result from stripping away all pretense, and posturing on both sides of the camera, in attempt to achieve a pure portrait. The courage to do allow what is to be is the intention. Personally processing and printing his work is part of the tradition.
“I think it’s happened over time… one thing I’ve done with photography is combined it with all other interests I have had in my life to experience or explore them to a greater depth and I think now, it's just come down to photography”
In Spring 2011 a series of Halsband’s Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat portraits were included in an exhibit at the Warhol Museum, followed by an exhibition at the Arken Museum in Denmark, featuring a twelve foot reproduction of the Portrait of the two artists with arms crossed wearing boxing gloves. Quiksilver Womens commisioned him to shoot and direct a series of short films with four time world champion Surfer, Stephanie Gilmore titled “The Water Dancer”. He paired Stephanie with three Dancers from various disciplines, with the intention to explore the connections between surf and dance. At the same time he began shooting and directing a short documentary film about the Peconic Land Trust and the programs they have created for young aspiring farmers to be shown in the summer 2012. Halsband has been always open to alternative exhibition ideas and spaces. In the summer he and graphic designer, Timothy Hsu collaborated on a show of current portraits in a unique environment, Madarin’s Tea Room Soho, NY combining another practice that supports Halsband’s work, Tea. This show continued through 2015 and became a part of a solo retrospective exhibition at the National Arts Club, titled, HALSBAND: PORTRAITS, which under the same title was further expanded at the Southampton Art Center, Southampton, NY at the end of 2017.
Currently, Halsband is working on a book projects and exhibitions, focusing his energy on new commissions, and continuing to work on his portraits with no end in site.
Gallery & Museum Exhibitions
2018
Paris Photo, Gagosian Gallery, Grand Palais, Paris, France November 8-11
“Basquiat: Rage To Riches” Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY. (premiere screening of BBC Documentary
movie) Michael Halsband plays Himself, September 6
“80’s Art Show” Peninsula Hotel, NY, NY. (group exhibition) June 27 - November 1
“Sea Witch/Space Witch” Modern Love Club, NY, NY. (group exhibition) June 21 - August 23
Gagosian Shop/Gallery, NY, NY “Jonas Wood ‘Prints’”, April 5 - May 25, 2018
“Artist Members Exhibition” Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY, (group exhibition) April 14 - May 19
"Basquiat: Boom for Real” Schirn Kunsthalle Museum, Frankfurt, Germany February 16 - May 27
2017
“Halsband Portraits” Southampton Arts Center Southampton, NY. (solo exhibition)
Curated by Andrea Grover November 17 - December 31
“Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983” Museum of Modern Art,
NY, NY. (group exhibition) October 31–April 01, 2018
“Basquiat Boom For Real” Barbican London, UK September 21, 2017 - January 28, 2018
“An Invitational“ The Children’s Museum, Bridgehampton, NY. (group exhibition, curated by
Kimberly Goff) August 5 - September 5
“Men I Love” Modern Love Club, NY, NY. (group exhibition) April 29 - June 6
“From The Streets” ArtsWestchester, White Plains, NY. (group exhibition) April 4 - July 15
2016
Paris Photo / Gagosian Gallery, Grand Palais, Paris, France, November 10-13
“Lake Life” The Garage at Judy Black Memorial Park at Washington Depot, CT. (group exhibition) October
29 - November 6
“Water / Bodies” Southampton Arts Center, Southampton, NY. (group exhibition)
June 25 - July 3
“Art Faces” Permanent Collection Museo Würth La Rioja, Spain (group exhibition)
March 20, 2015 - February 28
2015
“11th Annual Thanksgiving Collective” Southampton Arts Center, Southampton, NY. (group
exhibition) November 28 - January 31
“The Sports Show” School of Visual Arts Gallery, NY, NY. (group exhibition)
August 22 - September 19
“Halsband Portraits: Portraits from 1979 - Present” National Arts Club, Grand Gallery, NY, NY.
(solo exhibition) March 30 - April 25
2014
”Permanent Collection Exhibition” Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY. (group exhibition)
Winter 2014 - 2015
2013
“Surf Book (out-takes)” Pilgrim Gallery, Amagansett, NY. (solo exhibition) August
“Atlantic Vibrations” Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY. (group exhibition) August
“Ladies & Gents” Salomon Contemporary, NY, NY. (group exhibition) March 14 - April
2012
Paris Photo, Gagosian Gallery, Paris, France, November 15-18
Frieze, Gagosian Gallery, London, UK, October 11-14
fiac, Gagosian Gallery, Paris, France, October 18-21
“Thank You Andy Warhol” Benrimon Contemporary, NY, NY. (group exhibition) October 4-20
“Michael Halsband: 8x10” Portraits” Lost Weekend Orchard Street, NY, NY. (solo exhibition)
September 5 - December 31
“Warhol, Baquiat, Halsband” Gagosian Gallery, Davies Street London, UK, June 19 – August 11
“Sound Quality” Grey Area, NY, NY. (group exhibition) April 28 - May 24
“Hangin” w/ Steve Olson, Known Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. March 3-9
“Michael Halsband: 8x10 Portraits” The Mandarin’s Tea Room, NY, NY. (solo exhibition)
January, 2012-2015
2011
“Michael Halsband: SURF” Lost Weekend NY, NY. (solo exhibition) December
“Surf Movie: reels 1-14 a film by Michael Halsband” Muse /Center of Photography and the
Moving Image, NY, NY. October
“Warhol & Basquiat” Arken Museum of Modern Art Copenhagen, Denmark (group exhibition)
September 2011 – January 2012
“Local 87” John McWhinnie at Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, East Hampton, NY. (group exhibition)
July - September
“Mixed Signals: Artists Consider Masculinity in Sports” The Andy Warhol Museum,
Pittsburgh, PA. (group exhibition) May – August
2010
“Warhol: Dylan to Duchamp” Eric Firestone Gallery Tucson, AZ. (group exhibition)
“Warhol: Dylan to Duchamp” Eric Firestone Gallery East Hampton, NY. (group exhibition)
“Swell” Nyehaus Gallery NY, NY. (group exhibition)
“Swell” Metro Pictures NY, NY. (group exhibition)
“Andy Warhol Black & White” Prism Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. (group exhibition)
“Plank Road” Salomon Contemporary Fine Art Gallery NY, NY. September 15 - October 30
(group exhibition)
“Down By Law” Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, NY. (group exhibition)
“Nixon Art Mosh” Chelsea, New York, NY. September 17 (group exhibition)
2009
“Michael Halsband, Recent Work: 8x10 Portraits” Salomon Contemporary Fine Art,
East Hampton, NY. (solo exhibition) August 28 - October 4
“Basquiat” Fondation Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland (group exhibition) May 9–September 5
2008
“To Repel Ghosts” Jean-Michel Basquiat/Michael Halsband, Fundacion Marcelino Botín
Santander, Spain, July 10 - September 14
“To Repel Ghosts” Jean-Michel Basquiat/Michael Halsband, Fondazione Memmo, Palazzo
Ruspoli, Rome, Italy, October 2, 2008 - February 1, 2009
2006
“Michael Halsband: PORTRAITS” Salomon Contemporary Fine Art, East Hampton, NY.
(solo exhibition) August 20 - September 3
2005
“Surf Movie: reels 1-14” Salomon Contemporary Fine Art, East Hampton, NY. (movie screening)
August 21
“SURF BOOK Portraits” Gallerie Biscarol Biarritz, France (solo exhibition)
“SURF BOOK Portraits” Surf Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA. (solo exhibition)
2004
“George Greenough Retrospective” Huntington Beach Surf Museum, CA. (group exhibition)
“George Greenough Retrospective” Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, CA. (group exhibition)
“Surf Culture New York”, Milk Gallery NY, NY. (group exhibition)
“Here It Is/This Is It” Glenn Horowitz Booksellers Gallery East Hampton, NY. (group exhibition)
“North Fork/South Fork Show” Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY. (group exhibition)
2003
“Surf Movie: reels 1-4” Guild Hall East Hampton, NY. (movie screening)
“Surf Movie: reels 1-14” New Filmmakers New York Anthology Film Archives NY, NY.
(movie screening)
2002
“Michael Halsband: Rock Stars” VH-1 Gallery, NY, NY. (solo show)
“Michael Halsband: Heart & Soul” Modern Culture Gallery NY, NY. (solo show)
“Surfs Up!” Glenn Horowitz Booksellers Gallery, East Hampton, NY. (group exhibition)
July 14 - August 16
2001
“Michael Halsband photographs: surfing” Foam Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. (solo exhibition)
2000
“Basquiat En La Habana” Bienal De La Habana, Museum of Rum, Fundación Havana Club,
Havana, Cuba (solo exhibition)
1999
“Michael Halsband: Cuba” Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana, Cuba (solo exhibition)
“Michael Halsband” Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia Bergen MFA Gallery,
Savannah, GA. (solo exhibition) April 8 - May 2
1996
“Michael Halsband” F-stop Restaurant, NY, NY. (solo exhibition)
“Pictures of Texas Monthly: Twenty-five Years” Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX.
(group exhibition)
“Beyond Words” Hasselblad 50th Anniversary group exhibition, Cologne, Germany
1995
Gallery of Contemporary Photography, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA.
1992
Michael Halsband "Photographs 1980-91” Marcelle Fine Art, NY, NY. (solo exhibition)
1987
"Art News Show" International Center of Photography, NY, NY. (group exhibition)
1985
Alex Rosenberg Gallery, NY, NY. (group exhibition)
“Michael Halsband” Hofstra Museum, Hempstead, NY. (solo exhibition)
1984
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Snug Harbor Cultural Center,
Staten Island, NY. (solo exhibition)
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Gifu Parco, Gifu City, Japan
(solo exhibition)
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Shinsaibashi Parco Osaka, Japan
(solo exhibition)
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Asahikawa Seibu Asahikawa
Hokkaido Japan (solo exhibition)
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Kichijoji Parco Tokyo, Japan,
(solo exhibition)
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Sapporo Parco Oita Kyushu Japan
(solo exhibition)
1983
“Michael Halsband: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You Tour” Alex Rosenberg Gallery, NY, NY.
(solo exhibition)
"Heros, Heroines & Fans" Floating Foundation of Photography, NY, NY. (group exhibition) August
1982
“Michael Halsband” Govinda Gallery, Washington, D.C. (solo exhibition)
“Fourth Anniversary Group Exhibition” Chinese Chance / One University Place NY, NY.
1980
“Michael Halsband, Jim Jacobs, Reiner Gross” Tower Gallery, Southampton, NY.
“Michael Halsband, Portraits” School of Visual Arts Gallery, Soho NY, NY. (solo exhibition)
Museum Collections
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas
Miami Museum of Contemporary Art
The Farnsworth Art Museum Rockland, Maine
Parrish Art Museum Southampton, NY.
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA.
Museo Würth La Rioja, Spain
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England
Sir Elton John Collection, Atlanta, GA
Awards
2012 Hamptons International Film Festival - Golden Starfish Award Winner: Audience Award
Best Short Feature, “Growing Farmers”
2005 International Photography Awards – Professional Photographer of the Year (nominee) - “Surf
Book”
2005 Festival International du Film de surf – Best Picture - “Surf Movie: Reels 1-14”
2002 Telly Award - Neil Diamond “Family Shot” – Director
2002 Hasselblad Master - The Hasselblad Masters Award
1994 Art Direction Magazine Creativity Award, Record Package Design,“Meat Puppets: Too High to Die”
1993 Certificate of Design Excellence, Epic Records CD Booklet Insert, “Shabba Ranks,
Xtra Naked”
1979 Art Direction Magazine “Creativity Certificate of Distinction ’79”, “The 1978 President’s Campaign
for the Hiring of the Handicapped” - Public Service Advertising
Monographs
“Halsband Portraits” Photographs by Michael Halsband published on the occasion of the
“Halsband Portraits” Exhibition at the National Arts Club, NYC March, (2015) 100 pages
83 photographs self published with support from the NAC, Michael Halsband Studio
“Surf Book” Photographs by Michael Halsband, Text by Joel Tudor, Michael Halsband Studio,
(2004)
Group publications
“Ice Cream Headache” (forward by Michael Halsband, also a subject in the book), Damiani, 2018
“MR CHOW 50 Years” Prestel, 2018
“Michael Chow: Voice For My Father”(pg. 92), Delmonico/Prestel, 2018
“Ryan McGuinness: #Metadata” (pg.45), Damiani, 2018
“Max Blagg - Slow Dazzle” (pg. 85), Shallow Books, 2017
“Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art” (pg. 52), MoMA 2017
“Andy Warhol: The Impossible Collection” Assouline, 2017
“Blue Man World” (pg. 35), Black Dog & Leventhal, 2016
“Frank Barney Frank” (cover), Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015
“Ryan McGuinness Everything Is Everywhere” (back cover), FRAME, 2014
“Paradigm Vol. 1” Genesis, 2014
“AREA” Abrams, 2013
“Pearl Jam, Twenty” Simon & Schuster, 1998
“Basquiat” Fondation Beyler, Riehen, Switzerland, 2011
“To Repel Ghosts” Jean-Michel Basquiat / Michael Halsband, Fundacion Marcelino
Botín, 2010
“To Repel Ghosts” Jean-Michel Basquiat / Michael Halsband, Fondazione Memmo,
Palazzo Ruspoli, 2010 / 2011
“Warhol: Dylan to Duchamp” Eric Firestone Gallery Tucson, AZ, 2010
“INDOCHINE” Rizzoli, 2010
“According to The Rolling Stones” Weidenfield & Nicolson, The Orion Publishing Group, 2009
“COMBINE” Super X Media, 2003
“BASQUIAT" Taschen, 2003
“ROCK STYLE” by Tommy Hilfiger, Universe, 2000
“BASQUIAT”. Jean-Michel Foundation Havana Club, Galerie Enrico Navarra, 2000
“JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT” Tony Shafrazi Gallery, 1999
“The Phish Book” Villard, 1998
“25 Years of Texas Monthly” Stewart, Tabori,Chang, 1998
“King For A Decade: Jean-Michel Basquiat” Korinsha Press, 1997
“Michael Halsband 1997” (Calender), te Neues, 1997
“The White T” Umbra Editions, 1996
“Underworld by: Kelly Klein” Knoph, 1995
“Jean-Michel Basquiat” Whitney/Abrams, 1994
“Splash: A History of Swimwear” Rizzoli, 1990
“Andy Warhol: A Retrospective” Museum of Modern Art, 1989
“Impresario: Malcolm McLaren & The British New Wave” M.I.T. Press, 1988
Films
“Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop”, (2013) Cinematography
“SURF MOVIE: reels 1-14 a film by Michael Halsband” 48 min., 2003
“Growing Farmers” (2012) 17 min. (Director / Co-Producer)
“Water Dancer” w/ Stephanie Gilmore (2012 (Director)
“Looking For Richard”, (1996) (Special Stills Photographer)
Photo Essay
Prince St. Podcast "This Common Ground" w/ Scott Chaskey
http://www.livefromprincestreet.com/photo-galleries/2/this-common-ground
Prince St. Podcast Additional stories w/ Photographs by Michael Halsband
http://www.livefromprincestreet.com/search?q=michael+halsband
Show Reviews
ARTE FUSE 9/19/2012 "Halsband Connects With The 8 x 10”
https://www.surfer.com/features/surfbookop/
COOL HUNTING April 10, 2015 HALSBAND PORTRAITS
https://coolhunting.com/culture/michael-
halsband-portraits/
Musee April 14, 2015 Michael Halsband: Halsband Portraits at The National Arts Club http://museemagazine.com/culture/culture/art-out/michael-halsband-halsband-portraits-at-the-
national-arts-club
Art Daily Halsband: Portraits National Arts Club, NYC
http://artdaily.com/news/77611/Survey-of-
portraiture-by-American-photographer-Michael-Halsband-on-view-at-The-National-Arts-
Club#.W5WkLq2ZNE4
Time Magazine August 12, 2015 The Sports Show SVA Gallery, NY
http://time.com/3991819/decisive-
moment-sports-photography/
Town & Country Magazine July 1, 2016 Water/Bodies Southampton Arts Center
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/news/g2526/water-bodies-
southampton-art-center/
Independant, September 20, 2017 Basquiat: Boom For Real, Barbican Art Gallery, London
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/reviews/basquiat-boom-for-real-barbican-art-
gallery-review-andy-warhol-a7957496.html
Dan’s Paper November 1, 2017 Halsband: Portraits
https://www.danspapers.com/2017/11/michael-
halsband-portraits-southampton-arts-center/
East Hampton Star November 22, 2017
http://easthamptonstar.com/Arts/3/Commitment-Truth-Moment
Southampton Press December 5, 2017
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/Southampton-Village-
Surrounding-Areas/541571/Michael-Halsbands-Portraits-Fill-The-Southampton-Arts-Center
Hamptons.com
http://www.hamptons.com/The-Arts/In-the-Galleries/23984/Photographer-Michael-
Halsbands-Portraits-To-Be.html#.W5WlVa2ZNE4
East Hampton Star December 26, 2017
http://easthamptonstar.com/Arts/20171226/Halsbands-Rare-
Rolling-Stones-Footage
Cool Hunting August 2, 2018 Sea Witch / Space Witch Modern Love Club, New York City,
https://coolhunting.com/culture/sea-witch-space-witch-modern-love-club/
Articles & Interviews
Whitehot magazine February 2010 "Moments in Pop Culture and the Everyday: an Interview with Michael
Halsband”-
https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/everyday-interview-with-michael-halsband/2015
SURFER July 22, 2010 "SURF BOOK: Book Signing Party Bigger Than P-Diddy’s, Oh My
https://www.surfer.com/features/surfbookop/
Surfers Journal “North of Madison” pgs. 78-87 June/ July 2017
Interview magazine “Inside The World of Michael Halsband” by Calvin Levels April 3, 2015:
https://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/michael-halsband-national-arts-club
Pilgrim Surf October 16, 2013:
https://pilgrimsurfsupply.com/blogs/news/83522500-making-a-portrait-with-michael-halsband
Videos with Michael Halsband
PBS/American Masters - Premiere of ‘Basquiat: Rage To Riches’ BBC Documentary movie Himself
Arias with a Twist (2010) Himself
Thread, a film by Patrick Trefz (2007) Himself
Nomi Song (2004) Himself
