Michael Barker was born on Jersey, the original Jersey, a very small island nine miles long by five wide off the coast of Northern France. Beautiful, but slightly claustrophobic.
The rest of the world seemed far away, vast and beyond exciting. He became especially besotted with America and all things American, mostly fed by movies and TV shows.
Barker went on to have a long career in advertising, working at top agencies in London, Amsterdam, New York and Philadelphia. As an art director and creative director he had the opportunity to collaborate with important filmmakers and photographers. He also wrote and directed campaigns for brands like Playstation and Channel Five along the way.
His path has led him to develop a photographic language that has been described as cinematic, graphic, precise and painterly. The work is driven by scale and wonder, often clean and simple, but always with a human story nearby.
“Ultimately I am a documenter of things who still looks at the world through the eyes of a kid from a small island.”
These days he lives in Philadelphia, ironically right next door to ‘New’ Jersey, with his wife and kid Dash, who happens to be a dog.
If you have a project you would like to collaborate or get Michael involved with, or would just like to know more about any of his work, please reach out. It’s always good to connect.
hello@thisisbarkerland.com
001 215-796-4421
