Photographer Philip Heying, born in 1959 in Kansas City, Missouri, developed a passion for photography during middle school, mastering black and white film and print development. After earning a BFA in painting in 1983, he transitioned to photography during a pivotal elective course.
In Lawrence, Kansas, he formed a significant friendship with writer William S. Burroughs, influencing his shift to photography. In 1985, Philip's journey to Paris enriched his photographic practice. Returning in 1986, he embraced a career in commercial photography, joining the Kansas City Society for Contemporary Photography. Collaborating with Burroughs in 1987, he exhibited in Paris in 1988, leading to a residency and sales in France. Over seven years in Paris, Philip held solo exhibitions, gaining commercial success.
Returning to the U.S. in 1997, he worked at Irving Penn's studio, transitioning to freelance editorial photography by 2001. He maintained a connection with Penn and participated in a 2003 group show in New York. In 2008, he completed the book project CODE and a series on Northeast Kansas. From 2010 to 2019, Philip taught at Johnson County Community College, contributing to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's collection. In 2019, he finished A Visual Archaeology, addressing human influence on the region's ecology. Philip completed eleven self-published books and moved to Matfield Green, Kansas. In 2021, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship, focusing on tallgrass prairie photography. His current project, A Survey of Elemental Gratitude, explores grassland ecology's enduring vitality and hope for the future.