The Legacy of Lee Miller: A Trailblazing Photographer’s Journey from Fashion to War

The Image Centre (IMC) is pleased to announce the exhibition Lee Miller: A Photographer at Work (1932–1945), on view from September 11 to December 7, 2024. Curated by Gaëlle Morel, IMC Exhibitions Curator, this riveting showcase delves into the multifaceted career of American photographer Lee Miller, highlighting her journey from a renowned studio portraitist to an intrepid war correspondent during one of 20th century's most tumultuous periods.

Between 1932 and 1945, Lee Miller distinguished herself as a versatile and innovative photographer. Her photographic career began in Paris, where she had her own studio, and was later cemented in New York, where she opened a successful portrait studio, attracting high-society clients and prominent figures from the fashion, perfume, and cosmetics industries. This exhibition reveals the complexities of managing a thriving business amid fierce competition and societal challenges, particularly acute for professional women of the era.

In 1939, Miller relocated to London, where her work as a fashion photographer for Vogue demonstrated her adaptability to wartime constraints. As head of the London studio, she captured the essence of wartime fashion, often featuring models in practical, yet stylish, outfits amidst the backdrop of bombed-out buildings. Her spontaneous and natural approach to fashion photography provided a refreshing contrast to conventional styles, resonating with Vogue readers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Miller's most profound contributions came during her tenure as a war correspondent for the British edition of Vogue. From 1942 to 1945, she documented the harrowing realities of World War II, bringing them to the forefront of public consciousness—including the liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, cementing her legacy as a pioneering photojournalist.

In addition to Lee Miller: A Photographer at Work, the IMC's fall season features an array of compelling shows. Aatooq (full of blood), a 2021 video by trailblazing performance art band Ikumagialiit – (those that need fire), is co-presented in our University Gallery with the Toronto Biennial of Art. This short film, blending music, movement, and arresting visuals, explores the centrality of blood in our bodies, the animal world, and the land. Nadine Valcin's Origines, featured on the Salah J. Bachir New Media Wall, offers a reflection on Blackness and belonging in the context of Canadian society, through the recasting of footage from Claude Jutra's autobiographical film À Tout Prendre.

In the IMC’s Student Gallery, Samuel Toward: Where the River Runs examines the Don River’s evolving ecosystem and urban encroachment through a poignant photographic series, while Gabrielle Tyrie: Looking for the Oldest Piece of Light invites viewers to explore celestial themes through stunning visual art.

Lee Miller: A Photographer at Work is organized in collaboration with the Lee Miller Archives, England. The exhibition was first produced and presented during Les Rencontres d’Arles, France, in 2022. The exhibition features many never-before-seen photographs, newly printed in 2023 by the Lee Miller Archives. The IMC invites the public to experience this extraordinary exhibition and discover the rich legacy of Lee Miller, a pioneering figure in photography. We are proud to partner on this presentation with the Toronto Star, media sponsor for the exhibition.

About The Image Centre
The Image Centre (IMC) is Canada’s leading institution dedicated to the exhibition, research and collecting of photography. Established in 2012 at Toronto Metropolitan University, in the heart of the city, the IMC welcomes visitors to explore the intersection of photography and culture. Through compelling exhibitions and engaging public programming, the IMC showcases work by emerging, renowned, and anonymous photographers, past and present. With a growing collection of nearly 400,000 photographic objects and an innovative scholarly research program, the IMC is also a vibrant hub for the preservation and study of photography. For more information, visit theimagecentre.ca. 

About Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly known as Ryerson University, is Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the University is home to more than 46,000 students, including 2,900 Master’s and PhD students, 4,000 faculty and staff, and 225,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit torontomu.ca.

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For media inquiries, please contact: 
Feven Tesfamariam, The Image Centre
ftesfamariam@torontomu.ca