Search the Design+Encyclopedia:

Lee Miller


From Design+Encyclopedia, the free encyclopedia on good design, art, architecture, creativity, engineering and innovation.
434794
Lee Miller

Lee Miller is an American photographer, model, and photojournalist who significantly influenced the 20th-century photography scene. Born Elizabeth Miller in 1907 in Poughkeepsie, New York, she began her career as a model for Vogue in the 1920s before moving to Paris to study photography under the tutelage of Man Ray. Miller quickly became a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement, collaborating with artists such as Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso. Her innovative and experimental approach to photography, which often incorporated elements of Surrealism and abstraction, challenged traditional notions of the medium. During World War II, Miller served as a war correspondent for Vogue, documenting the harrowing realities of the conflict and its aftermath. Her powerful images, such as those taken at the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, provide an unflinching look at the atrocities of war. In the post-war years, Miller continued to push the boundaries of photography, exploring themes of femininity, sexuality, and the human form. Her work has been widely exhibited and celebrated, cementing her status as one of the most influential photographers of her generation.

Lee Miller, American photographer, Surrealism, Man Ray, World War II, photojournalism, Vogue, war correspondent, 20th-century photography

Helen James

CITATION : "Helen James. 'Lee Miller.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=434794 (Accessed on June 07, 2025)"

328190
Lee Miller

Lee Miller was an American artist, photographer, and model who left an indelible mark on the art world. She was a trailblazer who broke down barriers and pushed the boundaries of traditional photography. Miller's works were a major influence on the development of modern photography, and her fashion photography was particularly groundbreaking. She used her photographs to explore themes of identity, race, and gender, often using her own experiences to create relatable works. Miller's works often featured dreamlike qualities, imbuing her images with a powerful emotional resonance. Her use of light and composition were particularly innovative, and she was one of the first photographers to use the darkroom as a creative tool. Miller was also a prominent figure in the surrealist movement, producing works that often featured her own body as a subject. She was one of the first photographers to use the darkroom as a creative tool, producing unique and captivating images that remain relevant today. Miller's surrealist works often explored themes of identity and gender, and her use of the female body as a subject was groundbreaking. She was a true innovator who pushed the boundaries of what photography could achieve. In addition to her photography, Miller was also a model and muse for some of the most celebrated artists of her time, including Man Ray. She was a true Renaissance woman who excelled in multiple fields, leaving an indelible mark on each one. Miller's work continues to be celebrated today, inspiring modern-day designers, artists, and photographers.

artist, photographer, model, trailblazer, surrealist

Timothy Anderson

210721
Lee Miller

Lee Miller was an American avant-garde photographer, model, and Surrealist artist in the 1920s and 1930s. She is best known for her photographs of surrealist images, portraits of celebrities, and wartime photography. Miller studied painting at a New York art school before becoming the muse and apprentice of the celebrated modernist photographer Man Ray. She developed an interest in Surrealism and photography and created a number of artworks and photographs, such as the iconic “Lunar Egg” photograph, the “Leda of the Ides of March”, and “Girl in White”. Miller became a successful fashion photographer for Vogue magazine in the late 1920s, and documented the devastation of WWII. After the war, she moved to England and worked for British Vogue. In 1973, she was awarded the Royal Photographic Society’s Progress Medal for her contributions to photography.

Lee Miller, American artist, avant-garde photographer, model, Surrealism, WWII, fashion photography, Vogue magazine.

Mei Wang

156385
Lee Miller

Lee Miller was a trailblazer in the art world, breaking down barriers of traditional photography and pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved with a camera. Her works were a major influence on the development of modern photography and her fashion photography was particularly groundbreaking. She used her photographs to explore themes of identity, race, and gender, often using her own experiences to create relatable works. Miller’s works also often featured dreamlike qualities, imbuing her images with a powerful emotional resonance. Her use of light and composition were particularly innovative, and she was one of the first photographers to use the darkroom as a creative tool. Miller was also a prominent figure in the surrealist movement, producing works that often featured her own body as a subject. Her works remain relevant today, inspiring modern-day designers, artists, and photographers.

Lee Miller, photography, art, surrealism, fashion.

Federica Costa

155803
Lee Miller

Lee Miller was a pioneering figure in the art world who pushed the boundaries of what photography could achieve. She was an early adopter of photography as an art form and her work was a major influence on the development of modern photography. She was particularly known for her fashion photography, which she used to explore themes of identity, race, and gender. Her photographs were often imbued with dreamlike qualities and her use of light and composition was a major influence on contemporary photographers. Miller was also a prominent figure in the surrealist movement, creating surrealist works that often featured her own body as a subject. She was one of the first photographers to use the darkroom as a creative tool, producing unique and captivating images that remain relevant today.

Creativity, Art, Surrealism, Photography.

Claudia Rossetti

149376
Lee Miller

Lee Miller was an American photographer, model, and surrealist artist who rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s. She is known for her groundbreaking documentary photography, her fashion photography, and her surrealist works. Miller was an early adopter of photography as an art form, and her works often explored themes of identity, gender, and race. She used her own experiences to create relatable works that touched viewers on an emotional level. Her works have been featured in numerous exhibitions and her photography has been widely celebrated for its innovation and elegance. Miller’s surrealist works often featured her own body as a subject, and she was one of the first photographers to use the darkroom as a creative tool. Her work continues to be celebrated by modern-day artists and designers who are inspired by her unique vision and her ability to capture emotion in her photographs.

American photographer, surrealism, documentary photography, fashion photography, darkroom.

Eleonora Barbieri

45328
Lee Miller

Lee Miller is a renowned American Artist, who has received tremendous critical acclaim for her work. Her photography captures powerful visuals, often with a dreamlike quality, which has led to a broad following in both the United States and around the world. Miller’s works are known for their distinct and candid depictions of people, landscapes and abstracted images, revealing the same eye for beauty she achieved with her work in fashion photography. Notable works by Lee Miller include Wet Suit, Dusk With Dolls, and Theatricality in Blue.

American artist, photography, Miller, fashion, image-making.

Giovanna Mancini

40917
Lee Miller

Lee Miller is an internationally acclaimed artist whose works are widely celebrated for their innovation and elegance. Miller's artworks range from paintings, prints, and sculptures to installations and video art. She frequently draws from her own experiences and emotions to create relatable works that touch viewers on an emotional level. Miller's artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions and often addresses themes of identity, race, and gender.

Lee Miller, artist, artworks, paintings, installations, video art.

Valeria Marino


Lee Miller Definition
Lee Miller on Design+Encyclopedia

We have 216.484 Topics and 472.443 Entries and Lee Miller has 8 entries on Design+Encyclopedia. Design+Encyclopedia is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by designers, creators, artists, innovators and architects. Become a contributor and expand our knowledge on Lee Miller today.