2026-01-22
On Friday, January 23, London's Lyndsey Ingram Gallery plans to open an exhibition dedicated to American photographer Lee Miller, a correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. Proceeds from the sale of the works on display will go toward the preservation of her legacy.
Miller's work has gained exceptional publicity in recent years thanks to her son, Antony Penrose. Nearly forty years ago, his wife accidentally discovered the photographer's archive while searching for other photos in their attic. After the war, Miller herself made no effort to promote her work.
Since the discovery of her legacy – comprising as many as 60,000 negatives and other documents – numerous exhibitions, publications, and even a film have been dedicated to her.
However, the sheer volume of the collected materials exceeds the capabilities of Miller's heirs, which is why the Lyndsey Ingram Gallery has launched a fundraiser for their digitization and conservation.
Interestingly, the photos are currently stored in freezers. This is the result of Penrose's collaboration with a Norwegian museum specializing in the conservation of photographs. Freezing negatives is an effective method of slowing down the degradation process, allowing them to be stored safely until they can be digitized and chemically preserved.