Art Leads to Transformation, Evolution, Change

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AN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THAT CELEBRATES THE POWER OF CONTROVERSIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Bob Mizer Foundation (BMF) is an acclaimed teaching and research institution devoted to photography-based censorship education.

 

The Foundation, a leader in physique culture education, engages 25,000 followers annually and promotes human rights, social justice, and civil rights awareness through education and commemoration of the photography of the mid-20th century. Through our archives, collections, and programs, our education assists students and visitors in understanding the causes, signs, and consequences of censorship, racism, and stereotyping in any society.

 

The lower down the social scale we go, the more virulent forms of prejudice are we able to discover, and the more ignorant are the excuses given to justify attitudes often completely lacking in logic.
_Mizer-Bob
Bob Mizer
Physique Pictorial June 1965

NOW IN THE GALLERY:

 

The Work of Bob Mizer

and all the Physique Photography Pioneers

Experience the rich tapestry of our extensive collections and archives, housing countless artifacts that vividly unfold the captivating narrative of censorship's evolution. At the heart of our archives lies the monumental body of work by the renowned Bob Mizer, complemented by the artistic brilliance of virtually every luminary of his era.

THE BOB MIZER FOUNDATION Film Archive

The world’s largest repository of original moving images documenting the twentieth century underground male physique photographic movement

Who Is This Guy, Artist, Pioneer ?

His photography served as a breeding ground for countless image makers, both amateur and professional, including renowned names like Robert Mapplethorpe, David Hockney, Jim French, Bruce Weber, and Andy Warhol.

Operating from his residence in Los Angeles, Mizer established his iconic studio, known as the Athletic Model Guild. It was a blend of business, social hub, and a sanctuary for young souls, but above all, it became the epicenter of a new era in male imagery. By utilizing homemade sets and experimenting with light and slide projections, Bob Mizer foreshadowed the emergence of "constructed" photography in the early 1980s.

In addition to his studio work, Mizer also curated the widely circulated men's magazine, Physique Pictorial. Through this publication, he introduced and championed artists such as George Quaintance and Tom of Finland to the world at large. Mizer's production of Physique Pictorial inundated American culture with a diverse spectrum of masculine images, infiltrating the mainstream with his vision.

Infused with a profound knowledge of art history and film, Mizer's work was characterized by meticulousness, intelligence, humor, and eloquence. It was a language that could only have emerged from the golden age of mid-century Southern California.

Bob Mizer Foundation Bulletin

Foundation events and projects, gallery exhibitions, and updates on the latest Physique Pictorial availability. Once or twice a month, privately.

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