Michael Hower

Michael Hower is a photographer from the area of Harrisburg, PA. Twelve years ago, after picking up a digital camera for the first time, he fell in love with the medium, becoming self-taught. In photography Mike rediscovered a passion for art that he hadn’t felt in years.  

His work focuses on historical themes, portraying human objects and structures in modified environments now devoid of human activity, particularly photographing places of abandonment with particular interest in industry, prisons and graffiti. His work conveys themes of wear, deterioration, and nature’s reclamation of manmade environments via architecture and landscape.  

Michael’s work has been featured in two hundred exhibits and publications. Several of his most recent accomplishments include publication in the recent book Essential Voices: A COVID-19 Anthology and first prize for photography in the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s 2023 “Art of the State.”

Artist’s Statement

Through Prisons Past, I explore the haunting beauty and complex histories of four abandoned penitentiaries: SCI Cresson (PA), West Virginia Penitentiary (WV), Ohio Reformatory (OH), and Brushy Run Prison (TN). My photographs delve into the legacy of incarceration, capturing the isolation and suffering echoed in the decayed cells, rusted bars, and crumbling walls. These images stand as silent witnesses to lives forever altered and invite reflection on the impact of the prison system on our communities. By documenting these spaces, I aim to inspire dialogue about the lasting imprint of these institutions and the hope for a more just and compassionate society.