Searching for Michael Jackson

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project © Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project © Hannah Kozak - This is the Douglas Kirkland book on Michael Jackson. View all images ↓
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Hannah Kozak had a psycho spiritual epiphany when Michael Jackson died and began a photo essay that documents her search and process of learning about who this soft-hearted genius was and not the fabricated illusions the media force fed us.

I was ten years old the first time I heard Michael Jackson’s falsetto voice singing “I Want You Back.”I had a visceral reaction to his voice and everything about him. I still do.  His soulful eyes, his unique dancing, his boundless creativity and spiritual approach to life all mesmerized me. Michael was a force field of energy and a creative genius, who, with his vision, would conceive and execute his ideas through his lifelong habit of discipline.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 causing a shift inside of me. I have delayed reactions to my feelings and emotions and Michael’s death was no different.  I couldn’t quite process that he was gone. That very same day I was injured while working on a stunt job. I was injured, hurt and confused - both for myself and over Michael’s death - emotions that inspired intensive research into who this man truly was.

As I have been Michaeling since his death, I have experienced a profound awakening in understanding who this man was, not what the mainstream media wanted us to believe. When I saw him on stage during the Victory tour in 1984, I could feel his magic. He was so enchanting that I sometimes wondered if he was real. I never met Michael yet I cried when he was gone like he was one of my closest friends. I knew him through his songs and through his dance.

Through my extensive research, I have created a yet unpublished book on Michael, that would fit well with an exhibition. People are hungry for the truth and this year, with the release of the biopic, "Michael" on April 24, 2026, the truth will be told.

The world grew a little dimmer on June 25, 2009 and something shifted in me when this creative light left us. This is my homage to MJ. It is an honor to be an advocate of Michael Jackson, and I will defend him until my last exhale.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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Part of my Michael Jackson library. I began to research and read everything I could get my hands on including the FBI report, where nothing was found after 10 years of the hunt.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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This is the Michael Jackson Opus book, created while Michael was still alive and published on Dec 7, 2009, 6 months after his death. The forward has a quote from Wade Robson describing Michael as one of "the kindest, most gentle, loving, caring people I knew." Robson was also the first witness for the defense in the bogus 2005 trial. Robson later tried to repeatedly sue the Michael Jackson estate

© Hannah Kozak - This is the Douglas Kirkland book on Michael Jackson.
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This is the Douglas Kirkland book on Michael Jackson.

© Hannah Kozak - Self Portrait of me at Michael Jackson's Neverland in Los Olivos, 2 hours outside Los Angeles.
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Self Portrait of me at Michael Jackson's Neverland in Los Olivos, 2 hours outside Los Angeles.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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Part of my Michael Jackson library. The truth is out there but it's easy to be force fed lies by Mainstream Media, who made it their job and goal to tear Michael down, once he became one of the biggest selling artists ever.

© Hannah Kozak - Here is a mural in Hollywood. I searched out these murals during the course of my research from 2010-2019.
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Here is a mural in Hollywood. I searched out these murals during the course of my research from 2010-2019.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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Magazines, newspaper articles during the Michael reign. Had the first false allegations from Evan Chandler, (which was proven extortion) in 1993 never happened, the door would not have opened to the next vultures.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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Every year, since 2010, if I am in the country, I go to where Michael Jackson was entombed on the anniversary of his death (June 25) and the anniversary of his birthday. It is a festival of love where fans send cards, flowers and stuffed animals from around the world.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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Michael's star on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood, California with my Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It Dolls that I bought along the way of my research.

© Hannah Kozak - I created this in Las Vegas, where I flew to see the Michael Jackson One Show.
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I created this in Las Vegas, where I flew to see the Michael Jackson One Show.

© Hannah Kozak - Image from the Searching for Michael Jackson photography project
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One of Michael's fans created this art. Every year I travel to Forest Lawn is healing as the love for Michael Jackson is present from people from all over the globe.