Bio and Exhibitions

Bio

 

Michael Kahn’s stunning seascape and spectacular sailing photographs are exhibited in art galleries and museums around the world.
 
With his 1950’s camera, Michael travels extensively to photograph the world’s finest boats and pristine seascapes. He collects his images on traditional black and white film and produces luminous silver gelatin prints in his darkroom. With a distinctive sense of composition and attention to tonal relationships, the emotional force exhibited in Michael’s photographs has allowed him to be one of the most memorable photographers of our time.
 
Born in 1960, Michael Kahn is a life-long resident of Chester County Pennsylvania. During his childhood, his family summered on the coasts of Maine and Topsail Island, North Carolina. This is where his love of the sea and sailing originated. After high school, Michael apprenticed in a portrait studio where they used Hasselblad cameras with a square 6×6 cm film format. Here, Michael received hands on training in film handling and black and white printmaking. Several years later, the owner of the studio changed the business model and became a commercial/advertising photographer. Michael stayed on as an assistant, learning skills in advertising, product and editorial photography. From there, Michael branched off on his own, shooting for magazines and other commercial clients. In 1990 he published a book of black and white photographs of the Brandywine River in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In the mid-90’s, Michael took his first sailing photograph of a small boat in the fog on a lake in the Adirondacks. This image launched his nautical photography career. Michael made the decision to stay with his film cameras instead of going with the new trends in digital equipment, and continues to make handmade photographs in his darkroom.

 

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exhibitions

“On the Water” Gleason Fine Art, Boothbay Harbor Maine, 2022.
“Surfacing” MASSONIART, Chestertown Maryland, 2022.
MASSONIART, online exhibit, Beneath the Surface, 2020.
MASSONIART, Chestertown Maryland, LIGHT water + stone, 2019.
Galleria Silecchia, Sarasota, Florida, 2019.
Stanhope and Spencer, Rockland Maine, 2018.
“Spirit of the Sea” Martin Gallery, Charleston SC, 2017.
“Spirit of the Sea” Sheldon Gallery of Fine Art, Newport RI, 2017.
“Set Sail” Preview of the 62nd Annual Arts Festival, Solo Exhibition, South Shore Arts Center, Cohassett, MA 2017.
“Summer 2017- Featuring the J Class Revival Photographs” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD 2017.
“Balancing Act” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD 2017.
“Photographs of the Sea” Solo Exhibition, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT 2016.
“Just This” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD 2016.
“Over the Dunes,” book release, signing, gallery tour, North Water Gallery Martha’s Vineyard; Focus Gallery Chatham MA; Martin Gallery Charleston SC, 2015.
“Sailing,” Three-Person Exhibition, Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA, 2015.
“First Light,” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD, 2014.
Gallery talk, Focus Gallery, Chatham, MA, 2014.
Gallery talk, North Water Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, 2014.
“Becalmed,” Two-Person Exhibition, Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC, 2014.
“Work Zone,” Group Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD, 2013.
“Close to the Edge,” Group Exhibition, Hard Castle Gallery, Centreville, DE, 2013.
Centennial Juried Exhibition, Delaware Museum of Art, Wilmington, DE, 2012.
“For the Love of Boats,” Exhibition, Shaw Contemporary Jewelry, Northeast Harbor, ME, 2012.
“At Night: Images in the half light,” Exhibition, Holden Luntz Gallery, Palm Beach, FL, 2012.
Art for Embassies 2012 Program, two silver gelatin photographs to the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain.
“Darkroom Photography: A Glimpse into Tradition,” North Water Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, 2011.
Solo Exhibitions, True North Gallery, Kennebunkport, ME, 2011, 2012.
Group Exhibitions, Focus Gallery, Chatham, MA, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Art by Geneve, A-D Galerie, Switzerland, 2011.
Biennial Juried Show, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME, 2011.
Exhibition, Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC, 2010.
Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, FL, 2010.
Exhibition, Salty Dog Gallery, Southwest Harbor, ME, 2010.
Exhibition, Focus Gallery, Cohasset, MA, 2010.
“Maine’s Windjammers,” Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport, ME, 2010.
Exhibition, Landing Gallery, Rockland, ME, 2010.
Exhibition, Galerie Aalders, Saint Tropez, France, 2008.
Group Exhibitions, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD, 2005, 2006.
Solo Exhibition, San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego, CA, 2005.
Art for Embassies 2004 Program: two silver gelatin photographs to the U.S. Embassy in Katmandu, Nepal.
“The Spirit of Sailing,” Kip Marina, Inverkip, Scotland, 2004.
“The Spirit of Sailing” Solo Exhibition, eight galleries across the U.S., 2004.
“The Spirit of Sailing” Exhibit, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD, 2003.
“Sun Sand Sea” Exhibit, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD, 2003.
“Golden Age of Sail,” Solo Exhibition, 8 galleries, 2002.
Group Show, Alinder Gallery, Gualala, CA, 2001.
Labor Day Solo Show, Gardner-Colby Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, 2001.
“Light, Wind and Water,” Solo Exhibition, Edward Carter Gallery, Lewes, DE, New York City, NY, 2001.
Mystic Maritime Gallery, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT, 1998.
Solo Exhibition, The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, 1997.
“Wooden Ships of Maine,” Solo Exhibition, Harbor Square Gallery, Rockland, ME, 1997.
Gardner-Colby Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, 1997.
“Chiaroscuro,” Two-Person Exhibition, Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE, 1994.
Photo Exhibit, Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA, 1990.

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workshops

Marine and Seascape Photography, how to “see” in black and white, WoodenBoat School Brooklin Maine, September 10- 16 2023

 

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talks

2023 TBA

 

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publishing

 
 
 
 
 
 

  info@michaelkahn.com   610.383.9250