Michael Joseph

Michael Joseph is an acclaimed portrait photographer, known for his black-and-white street portraits. The shot “Raskull” is from the Lost&Found series published by Kehrer Verlag in 2023. For the series, Michael Joseph documents a contemporary American subculture — people moving across the country by hitchhiking and hopping freight trains. He portrays a generation that, for various reasons, has stepped out of mainstream culture or never had access to it — instead living a nomadic life on the road. The portraits are raw and direct, capturing bruises, dirt, and scars — authenticity grounded in trust between photographer and subject. For many years, Michael Joseph followed these travelers, spending time with them and staying in touch over time to trace the course of their lives. Out of many encounters and fragments, he has created an authentic and layered portrait of this overlooked community.

Having “Raskull” as part of our group show is an important addition. The image stands as an example of Michael Joseph's approach: not only to portray people, but to share in their journeys and make their reality visible. Beyond its artistic qualities, his photography is about testimony and credibility. And in an age when images can be endlessly manipulated — or even generated entirely synthetically — documentary photography retains its relevance. The knowledge that a photograph is unaltered gives it a gravity that goes beyond aesthetic interest. Michael Joseph's work reminds us that photography, in its original power — as evidence of what truly existed — remains significant. To create such an image, patience and empathy are essential. It is about building genuine human relationships. It is about trust in the process and trust in others. Thus, it is not only the viewers who can learn something. The artist develops and builds skills that are fundamental for a harmonious coexistence and an open and balanced society.