How Susan Mikula Transforms Light into Art

Susan Mikula, born in 1958, is a well-known American artist and photographer who uses old cameras and film in her work.

She learned to photograph on her own in New Jersey and later in New Hampshire, where she grew to love photography.

Mikula’s art often uses pinhole and Polaroid cameras to mix old-fashioned feelings with modern ideas.

Her photos have been shown in many famous places in the U.S. and she lives with MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow in Western Massachusetts and New York City.

Discovering Vintage Cameras

Susan Mikula has experimented with different cameras, each with its own unique features, which help shape her photography style.

She sees the challenges and limitations of older cameras, like pinhole and Polaroid, as chances to be creative, not problems.

This mindset has made her feel close to each camera, using them as part of her art.

The Importance of Process in Mikula’s Art

Susan Mikula focuses on using the camera as a key element in her art. She lets the camera guide her, enjoying the unexpected outcomes from using old technology.

Mikula appreciates the skill and creativity needed with these tools, seeing them as tools for her art.

Experimenting with Expired Film and Polaroids

Susan Mikula is famous for her unique photography style that involves using expired film, which often results in stunning and unexpected outcomes.

This technique allows her to capture vibrant colors and unique effects that make her photos more emotional and celebrate the beauty of change and time passing.

Capturing the Essence of a Subject with Soft Focus

Susan Mikula’s unique style involves making her subjects look soft and blurry, which helps show their true shape and feelings.

Her photos feel both familiar and dreamy, making the viewer connect emotionally with them. By doing this, Mikula makes the photos feel nostalgic and close, making the viewer feel like they’re part of the scene.

Exploring the Interplay of Light and Time

Susan Mikula uses a technique to keep the camera open for a long time to let in light, making her photos look like movies.

This technique shows how time passes in a single picture by using light to create interesting patterns and effects. Mikula makes viewers think about the moments in each picture.

This method makes her photos more engaging and nostalgic, making people think more deeply about how time and memories are fleeting.

Influences and Inspiration from Painters

Susan Mikula is greatly inspired by abstract expressionist artists like Joan Mitchell and Cy Twombly, known for their expressive styles.

She uses painting techniques in her photography to capture the emotional depth and complexity of these artists’ work.

Themes and Subjects in Mikula’s Photography

Susan Mikula’s photos mainly focus on the American countryside, showing its industrial side while also capturing the charm and memories of events like carnivals, demolition derbies, and music festivals.

Her work highlights how nature, buildings, and people come together in the American story, showing both the lively and the old parts of her subjects.

This approach makes viewers feel nostalgic and connects the rich diversity of American life with the way people interact with their surroundings, highlighting the stories that come from these connections.

The Role of Memory and Archetypes in Mikula’s Work

Susan Mikula skillfully captures moments that deeply touch people’s memories, making her photos relatable and personal.

She turns places into common symbols, making her subjects feel universal. This helps viewers see their own stories and feelings in her work, making it feel close and familiar.

Mikula’s photography is not just about her art but also about connecting with viewers’ memories and emotions, creating a meaningful exchange between the art and its audience.

Mikula’s Relationship with Partner Rachel Maddow

Susan Mikula and Rachel Maddow have been in a relationship since 1999 when Mikula hired Maddow to mow her lawn when Maddow was working on her PhD.

They hit it off immediately and according to Maddow, it was love at first sight.When Mikula started getting more popular as a TV host, this boosted his photography business.

Both have a very close friendship and at times, business-like partnership where Mikula pays attention to Maddow’s dressing sense and comforts her during her down time such as a pandemic where Mikula contracted COVID-19.

Exhibitions and Collections

Susan Mikula is a gifted photographer, whose works have a great reputation and are exhibited and purchased frequently.

Many of her photographs have already been displayed in her personal and collective exhibits in major cities including New York, San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles.

Her art is also housed in private collections in the U. S. and Europe and she has donated one of her pieces to the U. S. Embassy in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico under a special program.

Through old cameras, I understand that beauty can be made from making the best out of what is available and embracing imperfection. She is so passionate about traditional film photography, and she gets creative with the films she uses to capture emotions in her pictures.