Duane Michals Photographs Jacob Elordi for Bottega Veneta

A new Bottega Veneta campaign showcases actor Jacob Elordi in a series of dreamy black-and-white photographs taken by Duane Michals. The project, titled “What Are Dreams,” draws its name from Michals’s 1994 image and poem of the same title.

The campaign marks the first collaboration since creative director Louise Trotter presented her debut collection for the Italian luxury house during the Milan Spring 2026 shows. Shot at Michals’s New York home, the series includes both photographs and a video.

Artistic Vision and Style

Duane Michals, renowned for his “Sequences” series, is known for constructing visual stories that leave space for ambiguity and interpretation. His images often explore emotional and philosophical themes through simple yet provocative compositions.

“My photographs are about questions. They are not about answers.”

His body of work frequently combines photography with handwritten texts, framing each series as a fragment of a larger puzzle. Michals’s signature imagery often carries a subtle sensuality, as seen in his iconic 1968 piece The Spirit Leaves the Body, depicting a man’s spirit seemingly rising from his physical form.

Legacy of “What Are Dreams”

The photograph inspiring the campaign shows a young man asleep beside a snow globe containing miniature New York City landmarks. Originally created in 1994, it later appeared in Michals’s 2002 book Questions Without Answers, continuing his exploration of introspection and identity through surreal visual storytelling.

Author’s summary: Michals’s poetic imagery and Bottega Veneta’s refined aesthetic merge into a contemplative campaign bridging fashion, art, and the mystery of human dreams.

ARTnews.com — 2025-11-05