In 1967, Michael Nelson and Stephen Sixta met in the lobby of the Illinois Theatre in Macomb, Illinois. In the five decades since, they attended each other’s weddings, started families and watched as their children married and had families of their own. In 1979, they formed Nelson and Sixta, a graphic design, photography, and video production partnership. The firm provided creative services for a wide ranging client base but became most known for their work on behalf of the commercial real estate industry; working on some of the most important developments on the West Coast including Wilshire Grand Center, The Broad Museum, Queensway Bay and the new Queen Mary Island.
The success and longevity of the company provided them little spare time to devote to their one true passion: the creation and production of artistic works. Both Nelson and Sixta are first and foremost photographers who share a similar sensibility in their observational approach to recording the world around them but also have unique styles and interests that give increased depth to their combined work.
Finally, after almost 40 years and the collection of tens of thousands of images, the pair have decided to place their energies, not in working for someone else, but in producing the photographs and digital imagery that they have kept to themselves for decades.
This website is the first step in that journey.
Michael Nelson and Stephen Sixta work with their team to organize, produce, direct, write, art direct, photograph and edit all their productions. Michael Nelson holds a B.A. in Fine Art and a M.A. in Painting/Photography from Western Illinois University. He has post-graduate work at UCLA and Art Center for Design.
Stephen Sixta holds a B.A. in Theatre from Western Illinois University and a B.A. in Fine Art Photography from Columbia College. He has post-graduate work at UCLA.
Nelson and Sixta have taken graduate independent study classes with Garry Winogrand, Eileen Cowin and Kendra North.