Origin: United Kingdom / United States
Currently Exhibiting in: International Locations
Website: Michael Turek
Social Media: Instagram: michaelturek
Bio:
Michael Turek is an acclaimed British-American photographer recognized for his work on documentary assignments with publications like The Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Paris Review. His ability to capture remote and challenging environments has taken him across the globe, from East and Central Africa to Iraq and Tajikistan. His first monograph, SIBERIA, published by Damiani in 2020, is the culmination of a three-year journey through Russia alongside writer Sophy Roberts. Their collaboration received widespread attention, establishing Turek as a photographer drawn to unconventional narratives. In 2021, his book CONTRAIL was added to the MoMA Archives and Library, further cementing his reputation.
Turek’s upcoming book, A Training School for Elephants, to be published by Penguin (UK), Grove Atlantic (US), and Zsolnay Verlag (Germany) in 2025, explores colonial history in Tanzania and represents his ongoing commitment to offbeat, uncharted storytelling. His work reflects a fascination with the “unGoogleable” and unexpected moments that convey the surreal beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Featured Artwork at Bushwick Gallery
Elephant Ear
Year of Creation: 2013
Medium: Pigment Print
Dimensions: 30 inches x 24 inches
Price: $2,500 USD
Description:
Captured on the edge of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park in 2013, Elephant Ear is an intimate, off-center portrayal that evokes the shape of the African continent through the elephant’s ear. This unexpected moment occurred on a main road during one of Turek’s earliest trips to East Africa with writer Sophy Roberts, marking the beginning of their ongoing collaboration. The image reflects Turek’s appreciation for the absurd and out of place, while also symbolizing the unique landscapes and stories of Africa. This piece invites viewers to connect with both the physicality of the elephant and the broader symbolism of the continent itself.
Edgeland, Serengeti
Year of Creation: 2023
Medium: Pigment Print
Dimensions: 30 inches x 24 inches
Price: $2,500 USD
Description:
Edgeland, Serengeti was taken during an early morning in the Serengeti in late autumn 2023, just as the rainy season began. Shrouded in mist, giraffes emerged like ghosts, their silhouettes hauntingly framed by the dense fog. This opportunistic shot was captured while Turek and Roberts traveled through Tanzania, researching for Roberts’ upcoming book, A Training School for Elephants. The image encapsulates Turek’s fascination with the unexpected and the surreal, presenting the giraffes within a broader narrative of Tanzania’s modern landscape and history. The eerie silence of the mist, lasting only briefly before the sun burned it off, adds a layer of transience and mystery to this striking scene.
Exhibition Information
Group Exhibition: Wild Kingdoms: Animals Reimagined
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7 / 6PM-8PM
Exhibition Dates: November 7 – November 18, 2024
Theme: Reinterpret the animal kingdom through a modern lens, exploring abstract representations and social commentary. Turek’s Elephant Ear and Edgeland, Serengeti provide a profound perspective on wildlife, capturing both intimate encounters and expansive landscapes. His work emphasizes the beauty and fragility of these animals within their natural contexts, encouraging viewers to consider the layers of history, symbolism, and modernity that shape our relationship with the animal kingdom.