Milo Keller, photographer, teacher and researcher, a leading figure in contemporary photography in Switzerland and a recognised player on the international art scene, has passed away. His death deeply affects ECAL, where he played an essential role for nearly two decades, as well as all those with whom he shared his vision, his thoughts and his commitment.
Born in 1979 in Lugano, Milo Keller obtained his Bachelor's degree in Photography at ECAL in 2005, which he complemented with a Postgraduate Diploma in Photography in 2007. An internationally renowned artist, he has had a rich and demanding career, marked by numerous publications and collaborations in the fields of architecture, design and fashion, notably for Wallpaper, Numéro, Vogue and L'Officiel, as well as with fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Vitra and Moncler. His rigorous and open artistic practice has always been nourished by a constant dialogue with the transformations of the photographic medium.
Alongside his work as an artist, Milo Keller has been committed with great vigour and remarkable generosity to teaching at ECAL since 2007. He has headed the Photography Department since 2012 and in 2016 founded the Master's programme in Photography, which he has developed as an international space for critical reflection, research and visual experimentation.
Through research projects such as Automated Photography, Augmented Photography and, more recently, Soft Photography – a project scheduled for development in 2026 – he has thoroughly examined the changes in contemporary photography, exploring the relationships between technologies, uses, materialities and sensibilities in the production and circulation of images.
Milo Keller conceived of this research as a genuine educational space, inviting students to become critical actors in contemporary imagery. Deeply committed to transmission, he saw pedagogy as a field of dialogue and mutual learning. Convinced that teaching is a living process, he often reminded us that ‘we always learn a great deal from our students.’ His approach, both demanding and benevolent, left a lasting impression and helped to shape a community based on exchange, curiosity and openness.
Until his final days, Milo Keller remained attentive to the life of the school and the projects of its students, demonstrating his unwavering commitment and passion for photography and its challenges.
ECAL extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students.
We express our profound gratitude to Milo for his unwavering commitment, his pedagogical acumen, and his invaluable contribution to the school. His artistic, intellectual, and human legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Thank you, Milo.