Michael Patrick Avedon (born January 16, 1991) is an American photographer living in New York City. Avedon works commercially as afashion photographer and makesportraits for his personal work – including an ongoing series of artists in their studios.^[1]

Michael Avedon
Born	(1991-01-16)January 16, 1991 (age 34) New York City,New York, US
Education	International Center of Photography
Occupation	Photographer
Relatives	Richard Avedon (paternal grandfather) Daniel Patrick Moynihan (maternal grandfather)
Website	michaelavedon.com

Avedon began experimenting with photography in 2006, and in 2012 was named inForbes's "30 Under 30" list of up-and-coming artists.^[2] In the spring of 2013 he graduated from theInternational Center of Photography. He has worked forLouis Vuitton,^[3]Calvin Klein,^{[citation needed]}Harper's Bazaar,^[4]CR Fashion Book, andDazed.

He is the grandson ofRichard Avedon on his father's side, andSenator Daniel Patrick Moynihan on his mother's side.

Michael Patrick Avedon was born in New York City to Maura Moynihan and John Avedon. From a young age, he was influenced by and participated in counter-culture movements such asskateboarding,surfing, andpunk rock music. He attendedYork Preparatory School on the Upper West Side from 7th through 12th grade. After graduating from high school, Avedon spent two years studying at theSchool of Visual Arts in downtown Manhattan. Subsequently, he transferred to theInternational Center of Photography,^[1] where he studied for an additional two years, graduating in the spring of 2013.

Avedon has shot advertisements forLouis Vuitton andCalvin Klein, and fashion editorials forHarper's Bazaar,CR Fashion Book,Dazed & Confused,VMAN,Interview Russia,Out of Order, andHERO.

In March 2012, Avedon had his first fashion spread inV Man, a fashion magazine edited by Stephen Gan.^[5] His first notable commercial assignment was a series of behind the scenes photographs at the 2012haute coutureParis Fashion Week, commissioned byCarine Roitfeld'sCR Fashion Book.^[6] Avedon was subsequently asked to shoot for the magazine's debut issue (September 2012), as well as several following issues. He maintains an ongoing working relationship with Roitfeld, and returned to Paris Fashion Week in 2013 to shoot for her magazine.^[7] Throughout 2012 and 2013 Avedon has worked closely withJefferson Hack (founder ofDazed & Confused,Another Magazine andNOWNESS), and has shot several notable celebrities forDazed & Confused, includingGreta Gerwig,Nicolas Jaar, andDamien Echols, as well as aBrooke Shields cover story forUnder the Influence,^[8] andNaomi Campbell forInterview Russia.

In July 2014 Avedon shot Lottie Moss (the younger half-sister ofKate Moss) forCalvin Klein. The shoot took place in London and featured a '90s-inspired Calvin Klein Jeans capsule collection. In ways the shoot pays homage to the iconic 1980's advertisement shot and directed by Richard Avedon for Calvin Klein, featuring model Brooke Shields.^{[citation needed]} In August 2014 Avedon shotEmma Ferrer (the granddaughter ofAudrey Hepburn) forHarper's Bazaar. The shoot took place in Florence, where Ferrer has lived for the past six years. The concept, envisioned by Bazaar's editor-in-chiefGlenda Bailey, was to create a tribute to the many popular photographs that Richard Avedon shot of Hepburn throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both the clothing and poses were largely inspired by these past works. Joanna Hillman was the fashion editor on the shoot.^[9]

The October 29 – November 11, 2018 issue ofNew York magazine included a portfolio of Avedon's portraits of 25 survivors of school shootings, from a 1946 shooting at the Brooklyn High School For Automotive Trades to theStoneman Douglas High School shooting.^[10]

Avedon's personal work has predominantly taken the form of portrait photography. Influenced by the extensive legacy of hisgrandfather's work, he has shot primarily in black & white, using 35mm and medium format film. His ongoing portrait project of artists have been intimate, close-up sittings, typically conducted in the artist's studio. Artists he has photographed for the project thus far include:Chuck Close,Richard Serra,Francesco Clemente,Peter Beard,Julian Schnabel, andTerence Koh. His maternal grandmother Elizabeth Moynihan has also been a recurring subject in his personal work. Avedon describes his work as "a mix of movement and energy".^[1]

• Michael Avedon Photography