About Jean-Luc Mylayne

Jean-Luc Mylayne (born 1946 in Amiens, France) is a French contemporary photographer celebrated for his meditative, meticulously composed photographs of birds in their natural habitats. His practice, developed over five decades in collaboration with his wife Mylène, represents one of the most singular approaches to nature photography in contemporary art. Working exclusively with analog film and natural light, Mylayne creates photographs that transcend documentary photography, transforming observations of birds and landscapes into profound meditations on time, patience, and the relationship between humans and nature.

Mylayne's artworks are characterized by their extraordinary commitment to process and duration. Each photograph can take months or even years to complete, as the artist waits for the precise moment when light, landscape, and bird align in perfect harmony. His photographs feature birds integrated seamlessly into their environments—perched on branches, nestled in foliage, or silhouetted against skies—captured with such subtlety that viewers must often search to locate the subject. This approach creates artworks that reward sustained attention and contemplation.

His limited edition photographs and signed editions are highly sought after by collectors worldwide for their rarity and contemplative beauty. These fine art prints capture the luminous quality and temporal depth of his analog process, making his distinctive vision of the natural world accessible to discerning collectors. Each photographic print embodies the same patience, precision, and philosophical depth that defines his practice.

Throughout his career, Mylayne has remained committed to analog photography and to a practice that resists the accelerated pace of contemporary image-making. His artworks continue to challenge viewers to slow down and engage with the quiet rhythms of nature, securing his position as one of the most important contemporary photographers whose works redefine the possibilities of nature photography as contemplative art.

Notable exhibitions

Jean-Luc Mylayne's exhibition history reflects his unique position within contemporary photography and conceptual art. He has presented solo exhibitions at leading institutions worldwide, including the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid (2019–2020), which mounted a major retrospective titled In the Hands of Time, presenting a comprehensive survey of his photographs spanning five decades.

Additional landmark exhibitions include shows at the Fotomuseum Winterthur in Switzerland (2006), the Dia Art Foundation in New York (2000–2001), and the Sprüth Magers gallery locations in Berlin, London, and Los Angeles. His photographs have also been featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and in significant group exhibitions exploring the intersection of photography, time, and nature.

Mylayne's artworks—including his highly collectible limited edition photographs and signed editions—are held in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. These exhibitions and institutional holdings confirm his enduring legacy as an artist who redefined nature photography through patience, analog precision, and philosophical depth.