Michael Harrison
Commercial Photographer and exhibited artist
Education:
Bachelor of Creative Arts, UNC Charlotte (1981)
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Michael Harrison began college as a business major, but found his calling after taking a photography class with professor (now emerita) Martha Strawn as an elective.
“I never owned a camera or even considered the possibility of any artistic talent,” he told Associate Professor of Art History Jim Frakes in an interview. “It was as if someone who never sang a note, suddenly learned to listen and began to sing on key!”
After graduation and a brief stint in San Francisco, Michael returned to Charlotte and founded Michael Harrison Photography, which he ran for 38 years. He was well known for his handling of big-name food advertising and fashion accounts – with clients such as LeCreuset, Laura Ashley, Husqvarna, Panera Bread, Cheerwine, Brixx Pizza, and Belk department store – but also continued to produce art photography. In 2004, the Light Factory held a solo show of his work called “Monuments and Barriers.”
Paired with Strawn for the Generations exhibition in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Department of Art & Art History, Michael contributed the contemplative photograph “Waiting.”