William Mortensen (January 27, 1897 – August 12, 1965) was an American photographic artist, who first gained acclaim for his Hollywood portraits in the 1920s in the Pictorialist style and later for viscerally manipulated photography, often touching on themes of the occult.  

Several cultural institutions have taken this time to pay tribute to William Mortensen on the occasion of hs 125th Birthday.

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Venues paying tribute:

The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick will mount an exhibition of original works curated by museum director Steven Intermill. This is the second exhibition of Mortensen's works the museum has undertaken.  Through March 15 2022

 The Gallery of Everything in London will present the series "A Pictorial Compendium of Witchcraft and Demonology" The Museum of Everything has custodianship of one of the most in depth collections of the works of William Mortensen.  Through February 6 2022

 Heritage Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana CA, will mount an ambitious installation of original works by William Mortensen in both the Maag Farmhouse and the historic Kellogg House. The exhibitions are curated by Annabella Pritchard, and exhibitions are designed by Jamie Hiber. William Mortensen's final resting place is also in Santa Ana. Through March 31 2022

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will highlight online their recent acquisition of the William Mortensen handmade book "The King of Kings" which was commissioned by director Cecil B. DeMille.  ibit.ly/awXq Ongoing.

The Laguna Art Museum William Mortensen is included in the museum's current exhibition "Sky Space Time Change" through April 25th 2022.

Stephen Romano Gallery in Brooklyn will have a draw for an original William H. Mortensen. To enter, please give a like to this post  ibit.ly/tsp3

"Thoughts and emotions cannot be photographed, despite the protestations of some mystically minded portraitists. Physical fact is ultimately the sole pictorial material." -William Mortensen

William Mortensen was born in 1897 in Park City, Utah. His family moved to Salt Lake City when he was 11 years old. He was interested in painting and was trained by his high school teacher, and possibly took lessons before that. He was inducted into the army in 1916 and discharged in 1918. Upon his release from the army, Mortensen spent 1919 and at least part of 1920 in New York City, attending the Arts Students League

"Nature is an unpleasing, stupid, lumpy, blowsy wench." - William Mortensen

Mortensen evidently knew someone in Los Angeles who put him in contact with film director King Vidor. He worked in the burgeoning film industry alternately painting scenery, making masks, and engaging in various film art-related services. Simultaneously he began work at Western Costume Company photographing silent film stars in costume.

In 1924 he married Courtney Crawford, a librarian, and moved into her home on Hollywood Boulevard, where he maintained a studio from 1925-1931. Also, during this time, he began to enter and show in photographic salons both here and abroad. His work was published in various journals and newspapers, including Photograms of the Year, American Annual of Photography, Vanity Fair, and the Los Angeles Times.

"Emotion may be expressed, or the utter lack of it may be expressed, but the only important fact is that of expression." - William Mortensen

Mortensen moved to Laguna Beach in 1931 and opened a studio on the Pacific Coast Highway. His school, the Mortensen School of Photography, officially opened in 1931 and always occupied the same address as his studio. Over the years, the school enrolled thousands of students from all over the world.

In 1933 Mortensen married Myrdith Monaghan and met George Dunham who became a friend and model. More importantly, 1933 is also the year when he began his long writing collaboration with Dunham, which didn't end until 1960 with an incomplete manuscript titled Composition. The 32-year collaboration yielded 9 books in multiple editions and printings, 4 pamphlets, and over 100 articles in magazines and newspapers. Both Myrdith and Dunham proved to be his most significant models, helping him to produce his most important body of work. The school remained open until a short time after his death from leukemia in 1965.

"If tone is granted to be subjected to control, why not line also, which has equal emotional significance? And if line, why not shapes and forms? And if shapes and forms, why not allow elision or emphasis of detail? And if all these things are allowed, what becomes of the record of actuality ?... Sunk without a trace!" - William Mortensen

For further information contact Stephen Romano at romanostephen@gmail.com

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