Michael Aldag Photographs Abandoned Churches in Southern Illinois

Michael Aldag, a photographer, captures the transformation of former church properties in Southern Illinois through his series 'Temple,' creating a visual record of evolving religious environments. A BFA graduate from Columbus College of Art & Design, Aldag initiated this project after encountering a church that had been converted into a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio. He has documented over sixty locations in the Bible Belt, showcasing buildings that are either abandoned, repurposed, or preserved. His black-and-white images highlight line, texture, and shadow, printed on various materials including metal and fabric. Noteworthy pieces include 'Stones Cry Out' (2020), featuring the old First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois, now a YMCA, and 'Quiet Bell' (2025), which he likens to Ansel Adams's 'Church, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico' (1941). Aldag names his works after hymns, scripture, or specific places. Since 2009, he has been part of the Illinois Art League, with his work included in the Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art's permanent collection. He also served as a judge for the 2025 Cedarhurst Biennial and was recognized as an Esteemed Listee in the 2023 Marquis Who's Who in America. According to Gallup, U.S. religious affiliation dropped from 73% in 1937 to 47% in 2020, while Pew Research in 2024 reported that 28% of adults are now religiously unaffiliated.