MTA, International Center for Photography, WE❤️NYC Celebrate NYC Life and Art Through Photography With Brooklyn-Based Photographer Andre D. Wagner

Subway Portraits Taken of Subway Riders in the Lower East Side 

Yesterday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the International Center for Photography (ICP) and WE❤️NYC joined Brooklyn-based photographer Andre D. Wagner at the Delancey St-Essex St subway station from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lower East Side to capture quintessential New York moments of subway riders’ daily lives as part of his ongoing project of photographing people in the subway system. Wagner began documenting his subway rides from Brooklyn to New York in 2013 during his commute to and from work, eventually leading to his first published work Here for the Ride in 2017.   

Subway riders who participated in today’s photography session received Polaroids of their photographs and a pass to visit ICP, steps away from the Delancey St-Essex St subway station. The ICP is a museum dedicated to photography and visual culture, offering educational courses, public programs and exhibitions to promote the power of the image.

“This collaboration with ICP, We ️ NYC and the talented Andre Wagner brings together appreciation for the city’s artistic culture and diversity, all within the system that moves it,” said MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “It’s a full circle moment and captures the essence of this city and its people through photography while they go about their day, whether that’s on a lunch break, to work, from graduation and everything in between.”    

"The International Center of Photography is thrilled to collaborate with talented photographer Andre Wagner on this special, one-day project in the Delancey St/Essex St Station subway station, which is just outside the front door of ICP's home on the Lower East Side," said ICP's Executive Director David E. Little. "Fundamental to ICP's mission is celebrating photography's power to communicate and connect people, and in this spirit, we are pleased to partner with WE❤️NYC on this event that highlights the unique fabric of our community."

"The Subway is the embodiment of New York City. The moments of serendipity and joy that can be found on our daily commute are possible because of the diversity, creativity and energy of a city where anything is possible. Capturing NYers on their commute, with the amazing Andre, what better way to show why WE❤️NYC." 

—WE❤️NYC's Lead and Founder of MaryamB, Maryam Banikarim.

About Andre D. Wagner

Andre D. Wagner is a photographer living and working in Brooklyn, New York. He explores and chronicles the poetic and lyrical nuances of daily life, using city streets, neighborhoods, parades, public transportation and the youth of the twenty first century as his visual language. His work and practice fits into the lineage of street photography that investigates the American social landscape, often focusing his lens on themes of race, class, cultural identity and community. He develops his own black and white negatives and makes silver gelatin prints in his personal darkroom.

His photographs have been commissioned by The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Cut, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, WSJ, Time Magazine and Vogue, among other publications. For the movie Queen & Slim Andre photographed the iconic key art and the campaigns leading images. His photographs have appeared in a number of solo exhibitions and group shows in Los Angeles, New York and North Carolina.