Ken Heyman
(New York, New York, 1930 - 2019, New York, New York)
North America, American
While studying to be a social worker at Columbia College, Heyman took a course with Dr. Margaret Mead, a renowned anthropologist. Mead recognized Heyman’s talent for photographing people when he submitted a photo essay as part of a homework assignment, and she invited him to join her on a trip to Bali. This trip was the first of several Heyman accompanied Mead on as her personal photographer over the course of 20 years. The two produced a books together about Bali, titled Family, which established Heyman’s career as a photographer. Heyman acknowledged the deep influence of Mead and her anthropological perspective, on his approach to photographing people and their relationships. Heyman has also photographed numerous actors, politicians, artists and musicians, from Marilyn Monroe to Robert Frost. His work has been featured in assignments for many magazines, such as Life, and has published fifty-four photography books. He has worked for the U.S. Information Agency, photographing Alliance for Progress projects in Latin America, and for several agencies including Rapho Guillumette Agency and Magnum. His work has been exhibited across the U.S., including an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1963, and in Europe at The Zabriskie Gallery in Paris in 1995. In 1976 he received the “World Understanding Award” from Pictures of the Year International.
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