Phillip Leonian Photo Archive

10/07/2026

Man in Motion: The Life and Work of Phillip Leonian is available free of charge to nonprofit institutions that teach or exhibit photography. If your organization would like to receive a copy, follow this link and submit a request form:

Man in Motion The Leonian Charitable Trust is thrilled to announce the publication of Man in Motion: The Life and Work of Phillip Leonian.Offering firsthand insight into the lives and work of Phillip and Edith Leonian, this sumptuous, hardcover volume explores Phil’s lifelong interest in capturing...

10/07/2026

If you would like to purchase a copy of Man in Motion: The Life and Work of Phillip Leonian, follow this link:

Offering firsthand insight into the lives and work of Phillip and Edith Leonian, this sumptuous, hardcover volume explores Phil’s lifelong interest in capturing motion within a still photograph. With a fascinating double-image vellum cover, two expanding gatefolds, a flip-motion walking man, and o...

10/07/2026

01/20/2026

We are pleased to announce that over 300 items from the Phillip Leonian Archive are now in the collection of the The Library of Congress!

The acquisition consists of photographs, posters, ephemera, publications, matted transparencies, and much, MUCH more, including:

1. Sports Illustrated Magazine, January 26, 1970.
Janet Lynn [in Blue]. C-print. 1968. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.
Janet Lynn [in Red]. C-print. 1968. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.

2. Sports Illustrated Magazine. March 5, 1973.
Janet Lynn [Brooding and Alone...]. Gelatin silver print. 1973. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.
Janet Lynn [Phillip Leonian Self Portrait in Mirror]. Gelatin silver print. 1973. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.
Janet Lynn [Disguised in Everyday Clothes...]. Gelatin silver print. 1973. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.

3. David Bean. "Carnegie Hall, Mon. Oct. 3, 1966." Vinyl Record. 1966.
Flyer for David Bean's Carnegie Hall performance, Mon. Oct. 3, 1966, 8 p.m.
David Bean Walking. Gelatin silver print. 1966. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.

4. Assorted Philco advertising materials, featuring photographs by Phillip Leonian. 1966.

5. Philco Advertisement Shoot PR [Phillip Leonian inspecting film]. Gelatin silver print. 1966.
Philco Advertisement Shoot PR [Phillip Leonian inspecting film]. Gelatin silver print. 1966.
Philco Advertisement Shoot PR [Phillip Leonian with switchboard and operator]. Gelatin silver print. 1966.

6. Postcard featuring Dan Immerfall from the 1979 U.S. Speed Skating Team.
Dan Immerfall. C-print. 1979.
Postcard featuring Peter Mueller from the 1979 U.S. Speed Skating Team.
Peter Mueller. C-print. 1979.
Postcard featuring Leah Poulos-Mueller from the 1979 U.S. Speed Skating Team.
Leah Poulos-Mueller. C-print. 1979.

7. Eric Heiden. C-print. 1979. Photograph by Phillip Leonian.
The Washington Post Magazine. February 10, 1980.
Champion Magazine. Winter 1980.

01/19/2026

The good new continues to roll in:
The New Orleans Museum of Art has acquired 18 works by Phillip Leonian!

The acquisition includes: five gelatin silver prints from Phil's Walking series, five from his Mini Cine series, two from his 1974 photoshoot with Carmen de Lavallade for Essence magazine, two original pieces from his Waterworks series, as well as four lifetime inkjet prints of athletes Muhammad Ali and Steve Prefontaine. Whew, what a selection!

1. Walter Hoyne [from Waterworks series]. Polaroid emulsion lift on resin-coated paper. 1976.
2. Talking Dirty [from Mini Cine series]. Gelatin silver print. 1973.
3. Peter Samelson Walking [Peter the Magician Walks]. Gelatin silver print. 1978.

01/17/2026

Happy Birthday to boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016)!

Muhammad Ali Smiling. Color inkjet print. Printed 2014. This print is now in the collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art.

01/16/2026

We have more good news:
The George Eastman Museum has acquired 20 photographs by Phillip Leonian!

The acquisition includes a small selection from Phil's Walking, Turns, Mini Cine, and Transcendentals series, as well as 12 images of athletes, four of which are shown here:

1. Mary Carillo [Tennis Instructional, Low Stroke]. Gelatin silver print. 1981.
2. Roxanne Pierce [Gymnastics, Uneven Bars]. 1971.
3. Wendy Cluff [Gymnastics, Balance Beam Dismount]. 1971.
4. Swing [Baseball, Golf, Tennis]. 1982.

01/15/2026

Good news:
Eleven posters featuring Phillip Leonian's photography are now part of the Poster House collection!

1. Alka Selzer. "Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz." 1978.
2. Wrangler. "Wrangler Wroll-in." 1979.
3. Racquet Magazine. 1976.

01/14/2026

We are excited to announce that we have received the advance copies of Man in Motion: The Life and Work of Phillip Leonian!

An homage to both Phillip and Edith Leonian, the book is a labor of love that contains contributions from curators Kristen Gresh, Marvin Heiferman, and Anne Wilkes Tucker, gallerist Howard Greenberg, and Judith Lane, the Leonians' longtime employee and steward of their legacy. It secures Phil's place in the canon of motion photography, and it gives insight into the Leonians' lives as dedicated partners, generous mentors, and whip-smart experts who were deeply involved with the photography world.

Once the final copies have been shipped across the Atlantic at the end the month, Man in Motion will be gifted to select recipients.

01/13/2026

Happy Birthday to photographer Phillip Leonian (1927-2016)!

As a birthday gift to Phil, we are thrilled to announce that the Phillip Leonian Archives are now located at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin! Phil's photographs, contact sheets, negatives, slides, bill files, and so much more are now accessible to researchers.

Here's what the office looked like the day the archive was shipped out, all 203 boxes—it was quite a sight to see!