Michael Collopy
Michael Collopy is one of the preeminent portrait photographers
of our time and has gained worldwide recognition for his
commissioned portraits of hundreds of public figures. His
portfolio includes a vast array of portraits from world
leaders such as Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev and
Margaret Thatcher, to entertainers like Ella Fitzgerald,
Mick Jagger, B.B. King and Luciano Pavarotti. Collopy also
worked with Frank Sinatra for many years. Collopy's photographs
have been published worldwide in numerous books, magazines
and newspapers, as well as many record and CD covers.
A San Francisco native, Collopy is the son of internationally
acclaimed graphic artist George Collopy. He is a self-taught
photographer whose enthusiasm for the arts led him to meet
and spend time with such luminaries as Ansel Adams and Richard
Avedon, who offered Michael their artistic advice and encouraged
him to pursue a professional career in photography.
Collopy's range of clients have brought him around the
globe. From photographing Mother Teresa's missions in Calcutta
and Pope John Paul II in Mexico City, to photographing the
Rolling Stones in Paris for Mick Jagger's birthday.
In 1996, Collopy released "Works of Love are Works
of Peace," with the cooperation of Mother Teresa. This
critically acclaimed 15-year photographic documentary profiled
the work of her Missionaries of Charity. It won many international
printing awards and was chosen as one of the top coffee
table books of 1996 by USA Today.
In the Fall of 2001 Collopy released his second book, "Architects
of Peace." Inspired by children rights activist Marian
Wright Edelman, Michael photographed 75 of the world's greatest
peacemakers and movers and shakers and asked each one to
write a personal statement on the issue of peace.
After tragedy of 9-11, Collopy combined with the Community
.com to create a website profiling the living nobel peace
laureates reaction entitled: The Peacemakers Speak which
was awarded One of the Year's Top web site's by USA Today.
The Architects of Peace project is permanently exhibited
at The National Civil Rights Museum, Marquette University,
The Hoover Institute Archives at Stanford, Anahuac University
in Mexico City and Santa Clara University.
Michael Collopy is currently working on 2 Celebrity campaigns
benefiting HIV/Aids Charities at Until Theres a Cure and
eliminating land mines worldwide through Adopt a Minefield
at the United Nations Association.
He is currently working on a book profiling musicians that
have shaped jazz and rock 'n' roll music.
Collopy continues to photograph the world's peacemakers.
