Fascinated by the historical significance of cyanotypes, Atlanta artist Michael Reese employs the blueprint as a metaphor within his work, weaving layers of meaning and symbolism into each piece.
Artist: Born and raised in Long Island, NY, Reese moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. After two years, he enrolled in Atlanta College of Art (now SCAD) for a more robust art education.
Company/studio: Michael Reese Studios has been based in Atlanta since 2000. His studio is located within Temporary Studios, an artist collective in Atlanta, founded during the pandemic.
In the beginning: Reese was exposed to art at an early age by his mother, a nurse, who practiced art throughout her life. Now in her 80s, she still does.
Art & materials: Mixed-media works on paper, mainly cyanotypes, that examine the narratives, past and present, within the African diaspora ($2,000 to $40,000).
Reese also recontextualizes archival family photos to explore the narrative ($2,000 to $40,000).
Materials include a camera, computer, water color paper, cyanotype chemicals, sunlight, pen and ink and acrylic paint.
What is cyanotype: It is a camera-less technique that involves laying objects on coated paper before exposing it to UV light.
Inspirations:
- Past and current photographic processes, particularly cyanotypes.
- Astronomy, cosmology and celestial science.
- The fight against human bondage.
”In the American South, enslaved people often navigated their way north to freedom by observing stars and sky patterns,” said Reese.
Special commissions:
- “GA POWER,” an installation of 10 conceptually based abstract cyanotypes at Georgia Power Headquarters. 2025.
- “Below The Belt & Inches Above,” a temporary public art exhibit at the Telephone Factory on the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. 2022.
- “African American Aviators,” a permanent installation featuring 11 black aviators at what is now the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum and Conference Center, Atlanta. 2014.
Recent honors:
- Hambidge Art Residency, Distinguished Fellow, Rabun Gap, GA. 2025.
- Montresso Art Foundation Residency, Marrakech, Morocco. 2023.
Recent project: The series “I’m Sirius-B” explores the intricate relationship between futurist philosophy, the cosmos and the fluidity of time.
“It is a means to reimagine the past and envision a future where African Americans are not just participants but architects of a cosmic narrative,” said Reese.
Where to buy: michaelreesestudios.com and galleries, including:
- Sandler Hudson, Atlanta.
- One Contemporary, Atlanta.
Connect:
- Instagram: @michaelreesestudios
- Twitter/X: @mreesestudios
