About / Curriculum Vitae
Michael Behlen is a seasoned leader in the DIY photography world and the founder and publisher of Analog Forever Magazine (2018-Present). A passionate advocate for the film photography community, Behlen has dedicated years to championing the work of emerging and established artists. Prior to Analog Forever, he launched the influential publishing projects PRYME Magazine and PRYME Editions (2014-2017), both of which focused on the art of instant film. Through these ventures, Behlen has curated and showcased the work of over 300 artists from around the globe, organizing gallery exhibitions, publishing print magazines and books, and conducting in-depth online interviews and features.
He has self-published two Polaroid photobooks -“Searching for Stillness, Vol. 1” and “I Was a Pioneer,” literally a boxed set of his instant film work. His latest book, Searching for Stillness Vol II was published in 2020 by Static Age.
Behlen’s Polaroid photography can be found in various publications, including Diffusion Magazine, Fraction Magazine, Seities Magazine, and Polaroid Now (Chronicle Books, 2021). He spends his time shooting instant film and backpacking in the California wilderness, usually a combination of the two. Connect with Michael Behlen on his Website and on Instagram!
Curriculum Vitae
Curatorial ~
Founder and Publisher, Analog Forever Magazine, 2018 - present
Curator, CPAC + Analog Forever Magazine’s Exhibition “Lost and Found” - October 11 – November 23, 2024
Curator, The Curated Fridge Summer 2021 Group Exhibition - August 2021
Curator, L.A. Photo Curator’s Online Group Exhibition “Lost at Sea” - July 2019
Curator and Publisher: PRYME Editions 2017 Annual Journal - December 2017
Founder and Publisher, PRYME Magazine, 2014-2016
Podcast Appearances ~
Central Valley Podcast: Analog Forever - December 2022
Super Nice Club Nice Work Podcast: Analog Heros #3 - March 2021
Studio C41: The Importance of a Zine: Analog Forever Magazine - November 30th, 2020
Sunny 16 Podcast Ep 220: Analog Forever, forever, ever, forever, ever? - October 10th, 2020
Photographers in Isolation with Go Everywhere - September 25th, 2020
Born in Film Podcast Live Stream - September 21st, 2020
Michael Behlen on Instant Film and Analog Forever Magazine - Grainy Dayz Podcast - August 13th, 2019
The Bueno Power Hour Podcast - Episode 4 - May 25th, 2018
"Instant Gratification with Michael Behlen" - The Analog Talk Podcast - May 11th, 2018
“Michael Behlen of Analog Forever” - The Phlogger Podcast - November 1st, 2018
Episode 10 of The Instant Film Show, "PRYME TIME" - December 21st, 2015.
Speaking Engagements + Panels ~
“Why Analog?” at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center - October 12, 2024
“Media, Social Networks, and Photography” at Experimental Photography Festival 2020 - January 18th, 2020.
“Photobooks” at Experimental Photography Festival 2020 - January 19th, 2020.
Selected Group Exhibitions ~
“Sanctuary” - A Smith Gallery - March 1 to April 11, 2024
Tête de L'Art Association's Group ExPolaroid Exhibition, "Polaroid Is Not Dead #4" - September 4th, 2021 to October 2nd, 2021.
2nd Annual "The Art of Instant Photography” held by Analog Film Photography Association - January 1st, 2021
Fraction Magazine’s 12th Anniversary Group Exhibition - May 1st, 2020
Polaroid Festival 2019 Group Exhibition - Atelier Güell - September 6th to September 8th, 2019
Polaroid Festival 2018 Group Exhibition - Espace Beaurepaire Art Gallery, June 29th, 2018
Polaroid Of The Day's Group Exhibition "The Decisive Light" - Projekteria Art Gallery - September 1st, 2017 to October 8th, 2017
Tête de L'Art Association's Group ExPolaroid Exhibition, "Polaroid Is Not Dead #2" - April 1st, 2017 to April 15th, 2017
Pola Pop Rock, an exhibition at Librairie Les Volcans Book Store in Clermont-Ferrand, France as apart of ExPolaroid 2017- April 4th to April 18th, 2017.
Light Leaked Online Group Exhibition, "Travel & Discovery" - August 26th, 2017
Festival della Fotografia Istantanea (Instant Photography Festival) - Circolo Aternino, Piazza Garibaldi, Pescara, Italy: September 30th to October 2nd, 2016
Tête de L'Art Association's Group ExPolaroid Exhibition, "Polaroid Is Not Dead" - April 9th, 2016 to May 1st, 2016
Selected Press, Publications, and Interviews ~
Searching for Stillness Vol. 1 and II, Polaroid Now by Chronicle Books - August 2021
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, Diffusion Annual Journal Volume X - December 2020
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, Seities Magazine - February 2020
Book Review: Searching for Stillness Vol. II - The Photobook Journal - November 11th, 2020
Interview: Michael Behlen on Issue 1 of Analog Forever Magazine - Lomography Magazine - November 1st, 2019
Interview: Michael Behlen on Instant Film and Analog Forever Magazine - Polaroid of the Day - August 13th, 2019
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, Dish Rag Magazine Issue 2 - December, 2019
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, COOPH - August 9th, 2019
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, Shoot Film UK - July 5th, 2019
Interview: PRYME Editions with founder Michael Behlen on the Lomography France - July 14th, 2017
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, The Fix Analogue Photography Magazine Issue 12 - August 28th, 2017
Searching for Stillness Vol. II, Optiko Analog Photography Annual Journal - September 2017
Contributor: A selection from Behlen's series "Searching for Stillness Vol. 2" was published on the Shoot Film UK's First Digital Publication - July 12th, 2017
Featured Artist: A selection from Behlen's series "Searching for Stillness Vol. 2" was published on the Shoot Film UK - July 5th, 2017
Featured Artist on Stolen Ground - May, 2017
Website Feature: A selection of Behlen's recent Polaroid work was featured on Float Photo Magazine - April 22nd, 2017
The Music Scene, Issue 7 of Seities Magazine: "Music" - September 15th, 2016
Drought City, Issue 7 "Decay" of Optiko Zine - October, 2016
The Music Scene, Issue 4 of Anon Magazine - August 19th, 2015
Book Review: Searching for Stillness Vol 1, JapanCameraHunter.com - January 2014