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About

Michael Odell was born and raised in Pasadena, California. His photographic sensibility reveals emotional responses that cut across cultural and economic boundaries. His fashion images exude an extraordinary elegance of expression, capturing the essence of his subject through an intricate balance of sensuality and grace. Odell’s interest in art began early. As a youth, he was active in the Southern California music scene, making his mark as a drummer with various bands during his early twenties. In the late nineties, Odell suffered a series of tragedies that lead to an era of intense introspection, and later, a discovery of photography. He built his own darkroom and learned the art of photography from the ground up. It became his calling, an obsession, and the route of expression he needed to lead the way to a brighter future. Extended stays in Italy, France, and Spain, as well as travels through the Netherlands, Germany and North Africa, plunged Odell into the reality of universal beauty. He has been quoted as saying, “Photography is the perfect blend of art, science, and expression.” All three are visible in his work. Odell draws inspiration from artists working in genres ranging from music and literature to painting and photography. Among his influences, Odell counts Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Francesca Woodman, and Henri Cartier Bresson. He also draws inspiration from writers and musicians with visual styles such as Vladimir Nabokov and John Lennon. 

Michael Odell lives and works in Eagle Rock, California. His current artistic focuses are portraiture and fashion photography.

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