Aker Imaging Gallery will present Will Michels: Recent Work. Native Houstonian Will Michels graduated with honors in 1991 from Pratt Institute, with a degree in architecture. Then he consciously began to explore fine art photography. His focus over the last 20 years has covered a variety of subjects all centering on portraiture starting with a series of introspective self - portraits. He currently lives in Houston, Texas working at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where he teaches young aspiring photographers.

Will’s very personal work has been a series of studies (what he calls his nudes) of the male figure and a series of Portrait Busts in the classical style of the regal marble busts he observed while studying in Rome. Similar to his earlier self-portraits, the artist uses photography as an antidote in Studies. Following a nightmare on November 3, 1996, the artist replaced the dream’s memory with images.

Primarily influenced by the regal marble busts he adored while studying in Rome. Akin to classical relics, the heroic figures in Will’s Portrait Busts are suspended between life and immortality. The sitters, shirtless in front of neutral backgrounds become almost larger than life in these simple compositions.

Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display through October 1.