Tyagan Miller’s photography has focused on race, religion, at-risk youth, aging, migrant labor, AIDS, combat veterans, and the land. From 1998 to 2005, Miller was the Riley Lecturer at the Indiana University School of Journalism. He is currently creative director at the Indiana University Foundation.
Selected Work
The Last Refuge of Disillusion, 2010–present
Eminent Domains, 2009–present
Matter, 2007–present
Árboles, 2006–2007
Damage, 2004–present
Por Siempre (Images from Cuba), 2000
Twilight in Arcadia, 1998–1999
Covenant, 1996–2000
Being Old, 1996
Family, Friends, and Others, 1992–present
High Risk, 1992–1996
Selected Exhibitions
“Public Works,” Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, 2011
“Marvels of Modernism,” Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, 2009
“Marvels of Modernism,” George Eastman House Museum of International Photography and Film, 2008
“Árboles.” Pictura Gallery, 2008
“Covenant.” Indiana University Art Museum, 2007
“In Sight: Recent Additions to the Permanent Collection.” Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, 2006
“The View from Here: Recent Pictures from Central Europe and the American Midwest.” Ludwig Museum, Budapest, Hungary; City Gallery of Prague; American venues, 2002–2004
“Covenant.” Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2002
“Twilight in Arcadia.” Indiana Historical Society, 2002
“Covenant.” Photo Americas, Portland, Oregon, 2001
“Magnum Opus II: Documentary Photography as Fine Art.” Radiant Light Gallery, Portland, Maine, 2001
“Covenant.” The Digital Journalist, 2000 (Archived)
“Being Old.” Indiana University, 1999
“Falling Toward Grace.” Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1998
“High Risk: 1992–1994.” John Waldron Arts Center, 1995
Selected Publications
“One Hundred Percent Club.” Crosscurrents, Summer 2007
Covenant: Scenes from an African American Church. (Text by Yusef Komunyakaa.) Indiana University Press, 2007
Twilight in Arcadia. (Text by Susan Neville.) The Indiana Historical Society and Indiana University Press, 2000
Falling Toward Grace: Images of Religion and Culture from the Heartland. Calder, J. Kent, Kim Ferrill, and Susan Neville, editors. The Polis Center and Indiana University Press, 1998
“High Risk, 1992–1995.” Indiana Review, Spring 1996
“My Sister’s Children.” Indiana Review, Fall 1996
Selected Publications about the Photographer and Interviews
Morris, Daniel. After Weegee: Essays on Contemporary Jewish American Photographers. Syracuse University Press, Spring 2011
Hammond, Margo. “Finding Meaning in the Harsh Landscape of Living: An Interview with Tyagan Miller.” Crosscurrents, Summer 2007
“On ‘Covenant.’” Firehouse Broadcasting (WFHB), 2007
“On ‘Covenant.’” Indiana Public Media (WFIU), 2007
Morris, Daniel. “A Photographic Dialogue Between Jews and Blacks.” Midwest Jewish Studies Association, 2004
“On ‘Twilight in Arcadia.’” (Coinciding with “The View from Here: Recent Pictures from Central Europe and the American Midwest.) Ohio Public Television, 2002.
Gottlieb, Jane. “On Any Given Sunday.” Photo District News. April 2000
Schaub, Grace. “Tyagan Miller: Images of Compassion.” Photographer’s Forum. November 1999
Komunyakaa, Yusef. “Masks.” Indiana Review, Spring 1999
Selected Lectures
“A Place in the World.” Klatch Jewish Arts Lecture Series, Purdue University, 2010
“Reading Pictures of People and Places.” Muhlenburg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 2010
“AIDS in Kenya.” Daraja Association, Indiana University, 2008
“This is Who We Are.” Indiana University Art Museum, 2007
“Telling Stories with Pictures.” University Research Magazine Association Conference, 2007
“Making ‘Covenant.’” A Spirit and Place Lecture, Indiana State Museum, 2003
“Starting in the Middle: Meeting the Muse after Forty.” Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2002
“Making Meaning.” Freshman Orientation Keynote Address, Butler University, 2000
Selected Awards
The Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant for “Eminent Domains,” 2010
Black and White Spider Awards, Nominee for “Being Old,” 2009
Lucie International Photography Awards, Landscape, 3rd Place, 2009
Photographer of the Year and Gold Medal, University and College Designers Association for “AIDS in Kenya,” 2008
The Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant for “One Hundred Percent Club,” 2006
Best Portfolio, Honorable Mention, Photolucida, 2005
The Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant for “La Cara Latina,” 2002
The Indiana Historical Society Grant for “Twilight in Arcadia,” 1998–1999
The Polis Center and the Lilly Endowment Project on Religion and Urban Culture Grant for “Covenant,” 1997–1999
The Center on Aging and Aged, Indiana University for “Being Old,” 1997–1998
The Polis Center and the Lilly Endowment Project on Religion and Urban Culture Grant for “Falling Toward Grace,” 1996–1997
The Lilly Endowment Inc. Teachers Grant for “Hoosiers,” 1995
The Indiana Arts Commission Grant for “High Risk,” 1993
Selected Collections
George Eastman House Museum of International Photography and Film
Indiana Historical Society
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indiana University Art Museum
Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction
Mathers Museum of World Cultures
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago
University of Nebraska