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Title
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Michael Jang
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Description
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Michael Jang was born in 1951 in the United States. He grew up in California and studied at CalArts before earning his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1977. In his early career, Jang turned his camera to the vibrant world around him, photographing everything from his extended Chinese American family to Hollywood’s elite and San Francisco’s punk scene. Although he took thousands of images in his twenties, he kept them hidden for decades and instead turned to work photography jobs for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and magazine commissions. It wasn’t until Jang was 70 that he began to publicly exhibit his earlier work, contributing to the new urgency to share images that connect to current conversations about identity, belonging and American culture. (Gallun, 2022).
Jang is best known for his candid black and white photographs that explore themes of family while surrounded by American culture. Jang’s photography blends humor with social messages through candids. His images capture moments that reflect both personal narratives but also cultural dynamics. His most intimate images come from documenting his family in their everyday lives. These photographs challenge stereotypes by presenting Asian American life as ordinary and joyful while deeply rooted in American suburbia (Aperture, 2022).
The artwork referenced above is a part of a project Jang worked on across the 70s and 80s called The Jangs series. In this photograph, Jang captures a lively moment at a family gathering between his aunts and uncles. The oversized smiles, coordinated sunglasses, and expressive facial expressions create a scene that is full of energy, authenticity as well as warmth. We also get a sense of love and togetherness among the family. The black and white format adds a timeless feel while the contrast between the formal attire and the accessories add a humorous perspective to it. (Haeusslein, Allie, et al., 2019). The image goes against the classic representations of Asian American families by highlighting their individuality, personality, and a sense of fun in times when Asian Americans often faced cultural marginalization and rising anti-Asian sentiment. (Downtown San Francisco, 2022). Through his work, Jang allows the viewer to reconsider what it meant to belong in America and pursue the American dream. Instead of reinforcing one dimensional portrayals, his images allow us to instead celebrate community, humor, and resilience as essential parts of American identity through candid snapshots of his family.
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Alternative Title
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Michael Jang, Aunts and Uncles, 1973, gelatin silver print, Charina Endowment Fund, 2022.119.2
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Source
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“Who Is Michael Jang? Documentary Screening and Discussion.” Downtown San Francisco, downtownsf.org/do/who-is-michael-jang-documentary-screening-and-discussion. 2022.
Haeusslein, Allie, et al. “Who Is Michael Jang?” 1854 Photography, 18 Oct. 2019, www.1854.photography/2019/10/who-is-michael-jang/.
Lucy Gallun. Michael Jang | Moma, www.moma.org/artists/134025-michael-jang. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Aperturewp. “Michael Jang’s American Dream.” Aperture, 17 Nov. 2022, aperture.org/editorial/michael-jang-california/.
Artist Photo: Aperturewp. “Michael Jang’s American Dream.” Aperture, 17 Nov. 2022, aperture.org/editorial/michael-jang-california/.
Artwork Image: Michael Jang | Moma, www.moma.org/artists/134025-michael-jang. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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Name
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Greta Maurer
