Associate Professor of Instruction
Photography

Rebecca Michaels

ON LEAVE, FALL 2023

Rebecca Michaels’ background includes extensive experience as an educator, photographer and design professional. She is deeply committed to and passionate about the education of the visual artist and the role of critical thinking in creating learning as a lifelong pattern. Michaels has been teaching at Tyler since 1981 in a variety of capacities and currently teaches and mentors both undergraduate and graduate students. Her background includes extensive experience as an educator, photographer, book artist, certified Master offset printer, curator, administrator and design professional. She is deeply committed to and passionate about the education of the visual artist and the role of critical thinking in creating learning as a lifelong pattern.

Michaels’ studio practice is anchored in and influenced by her graphic design and architectural sensibilities, with recent photographic work being book-based, both handmade and mass-produced. Michaels has exhibited nationally and internationally, with her book works in various museum collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art Fine Art Book Collection, The Museum of Modern Art Artists Book Collection, and The New York City Library Rare Book Collection. 

Since 1983 Michaels has taught in at variety of art school including Maryland Institute of Art, School of The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Tyler School of Art and Architecture where she currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate students and served as the Photography Program Director from 2010 to 2012. She is also the Society for Photographic Education {SPE} MidAtlantic Chapter Chair and Board Member for the Photo Review Philadelphia. 

MFA, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, 1983
BFA, The Art Institute of Chicago, 1977

Selected Work
Michaels, R. (2014 - 2019). Square Book Series. Philadelphia, PA: Self Published.

Michaels, R. (1984). The Book of Hair. Philadelphia, PA: Tyler Offset Workshop.

Michaels, R. (1979). The Courtship Patterns of Chairs. Chicago, IL: Permanent Press Chicago. 

Michaels, R. (Ed.). (1978–1984). Argot Magazine. Chicago, IL: Permanent Press Chicago.