Last updated: 27 October 2026
Lee Miller (1907 to 1977) was the American photographer who moved from surrealism and fashion to war reporting for Vogue. Here you will find our take on her work, her Tate Britain retrospective and the book you can buy.
Our take on Lee Miller
Miller studied painting and stage design, worked as a model, then turned to photography. She worked with Man Ray in Paris from 1929 and starred in Jean Cocteau’s Le Sang d’un poète (1930), according to Tate.
She moved to Cairo in 1934 and to London in 1939, where she became a leading fashion photographer for British Vogue and one of the few accredited female war correspondents. Works include Portrait of Space, Al Bulwayeb near Siwa (1937) and Fire Masks (1941).
Tate Britain’s 2025 retrospective, with about 230 prints, was the largest of her work so far. The exhibition book is the way to take it home.
Lee Miller: the essentials
- Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1907; died in 1977.
- Lived with Roland Penrose at 21 Downshire Hill, Hampstead, from 1939 to 1947, where an English Heritage blue plaque now marks the house.
- Moved to Farley Farm in East Sussex in 1949.
- Her archive is held by the Lee Miller Archives in England.
Lee Miller exhibitions
- Lee Miller, Tate Britain, London, 2 October 2025 to 15 February 2026, with about 230 prints.
Where to buy a Lee Miller book
From the Tate shop:
- Exhibition book (paperback), £32: 28.5 x 23 cm (11.2 x 9.1 in), from the Tate shop. A hardback and a limited edition are also listed.
Lee Miller FAQs
Who was Lee Miller?
An American photographer (1907 to 1977) who worked in surrealism and fashion and as a Second World War correspondent for Vogue.
Where did Lee Miller live in London?
At 21 Downshire Hill, Hampstead, with Roland Penrose, from 1939 to 1947.
When was the Lee Miller show at Tate Britain?
From 2 October 2025 to 15 February 2026.
Is there a Lee Miller book?
Yes. The Tate exhibition book is £32 in paperback.
More from CoolCuration
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- Great Women Artists: the Phaidon survey for your shelf.
- Whistler at Tate Britain review: our review of another Tate Britain retrospective.
- Best affordable art in the UK: where to start collecting prints.
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Main image: Lee Miller in Normandy, 1944. © Lee Miller Archives, England, courtesy English Heritage. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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