AJ Stetson has been photographing since a childhood encounter with a crocodile. He has since created photographs and videos on five continents of Cirque du Soleil performers, dancers, athletes, sea lions, the Milky Way, and more, sharing the miraculousness of the extraordinary and the everyday.
Since recovering from COVID-19 in April, 2020, Stetson has been making portraits of masked New Yorkers throughout NYC, using a telephoto lens to remain socially distanced and always asking permission. His goal is to share some of the radiance, diversity, and resilience of his fellow New Yorkers during these challenging times. He hopes that we will continue to strive for justice, health, and empathy toward one another moving forward.
A dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy, Stetson’s Masked NYC project, involving over a thousand New Yorkers, has been lauded by Governor Andrew Cuomo, featured in the news, and been exhibited in multiple outdoor, COVID-safe exhibitions throughout NYC.
