William Mortensen "Mary Magdalene The Sinner" 1927 from The King of Kings book commissioned by Cecil B DeMille at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

A Celebration of the 125th Birthday of America’s Visionary Photographic Artist WILLIAM MORTENSEN.

Image: William Mortensen “Mary Magdalene The Sinner” 1927 from The King of Kings book commissioned by Cecil B DeMille at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

William Mortensen at 125 – a multi-venue celebration of the 125th birthday of on America’s – and history’s – greatest visionary photographic artist.

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.

Venues paying tribute:

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 and Daniel Cooper. Many never-before-seen works will be included in this installation. William Mortensen’s final resting place is also in Santa Ana. 

Opening January 27 through February 2022. Reception Saturday January 29th 2022.

The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick, Cleveland 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. Many of the works in the exhibition have never been displayed publicly before since they were created almost 100 years ago.

Opening January 27 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.

January 27 into February 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. The Museum will also display the book in The Anne Wilkes Tucker Photography Study Center.

Currently on view into February 2022.

The Laguna Art Museum will present on William Mortensen’s birthday a panel discussion moderated by Stephen Romano featuring Deborah Irmas, Michael Moynihan, Brian Chidester and Matthew Rolston. William Mortensen is also included in the museum’s current exhibition “Sky Space Time Change” through April 25th 2022.

Stephen Romano Gallery in Brooklyn will announce a special event. Announcement forthcoming.

For more information and images contact Stephen Romano at [email protected]

and visit

www.whmcxxv.com 😇 with innocuous images and www.whmcxxv.net 😈 with visceral images (for adults, only).