Duane Michals Photographs Jacob Elordi for Bottega Veneta

A new campaign by Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta features actor Jacob Elordi in dreamy black-and-white photos taken by Duane Michals. This marks the first collaboration since creative director Louise Trotter presented her debut collection for Bottega during the Milan Spring 2026 shows.

About Duane Michals

Michals is renowned for his “Sequences” series—images that narrate mysterious stories without clear resolutions, creating a captivating experience. He often adds handwritten captions that frame the narratives. His work frequently explores queer sensuality, as seen in his iconic 1968 photograph The Spirit Leaves the Body, depicting the spirit of a nude man rising from his body toward the camera.

“My photographs are about questions. They are not about answers,” Michals once explained.

The “What Are Dreams” Campaign

The campaign, shot in Michals’s New York home, is named after Michals's 1994 photograph and accompanying handwritten poem titled What Are Dreams. This image shows a handsome young man seemingly asleep next to a snow globe of iconic New York City landmarks. It was later included in Michals’s book Questions Without Answers (2002).

Visual Elements

Black-and-white imagery
Dreamlike atmosphere
Strong narrative and poetic influence

Significance

This collaboration connects Bottega Veneta's modern vision with Michals’s poetic and enigmatic photographic style, enriching the campaign with artistic depth and historic resonance.

“What Are Dreams” campaign draws its essence from Michals's photographic storytelling and reflective poetry.

Author’s summary: This campaign bridges contemporary fashion with Duane Michals’s evocative photography, blending poetic narratives and dreamlike visuals featuring Jacob Elordi.

ARTnews.com — 2025-11-04