Gallery shows
Affirmation Arts gallery
Our End of Year Show is proof that a photograph can change the way you see the world, and that the right mentorship, tools, and guidance can turn a student into an amazing storyteller.
This exhibition celebrates their creativity, dedication, and artistic growth, offering a glimpse into the unique perspectives and stories they have developed through photography.
127 West 26th Street, Suite 1201
Our End of Year Show celebrates the creativity, growth, and dedication of Salt students as they share powerful stories through photography. This year, the event spanned two evenings: a VIP Night with industry professionals, and a second night filled with the love and support of students’ families and friends.
More than half of our students this year are graduating seniors, and we couldn’t be prouder of all they’ve accomplished.
Clement Moore Park, NYC
For 20 years, NYC Salt has provided young photographers with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to develop their artistic voices. To mark this milestone, we are partnering with NYC Parks to present an outdoor photography exhibition showcasing two decades of student work.
The exhibition highlights the impact of storytelling through photography, featuring images that reflect personal narratives, social issues, and creative exploration.
Affirmation Arts, NYC
NYC SALT is on a mission to ignite the potential of youth from public school communities in New York City. For the past 20 years, we have empowered students to reach new heights and cultivate a strong sense of agency, belonging, and identity through the art of photography. Our transformative program combines rigorous, multi-year photography and video instruction with hands-on mentorship, college prep, career exploration, and vocational training, all led by top artists and industry experts.
Through a unique blend of professional instruction and preparatory workshops, we have created powerful pathways in the visual arts, opening doors to college and career opportunities for talented youth from diverse backgrounds. Our students graduate with advanced skills, confidence, and resilience, ready to thrive in their future endeavors.
To commemorate this milestone, our anniversary exhibition showcased the remarkable work of our students and alumni, highlighting two decades of creativity, growth, and community. A special silent auction featured exclusive artwork and unique experiences, with all proceeds supporting our ongoing programs.
Visit nycsalt.org/the-moment-it-clicks to explore the impact of NYC SALT and support the next generation of young artists. Together, let’s make the next 20 years even more impactful!
Moleskine Store, Moynihan Station, NYC
On September 5, 2024, NYC Salt proudly presented We've Seen So Much From These Heights by Devin Osorio at the Moleskine Boutique in Moynihan Train Hall.
This unique exhibition showcased 64 hand-illustrated Moleskine notebooks, alongside two original pieces on paper and special prints created by Osorio for the occasion. The 64 notebooks, hand-painted with acrylic and adorned with palm motifs, explored the histories of Washington Heights—paying homage to the Wecquaesgeek people's historical use of the land while reflecting on the present-day Dominican community. By merging the interior with the exterior, the real with the fantastical/spiritual, and the past with the present, Osorio sought to connect personal and collective histories.
Devin Osorio (b. 1993) was part of NYC Salt’s first cohort of students in 2005 in Washington Heights. A multidisciplinary artist based in the Lower East Side, Osorio creates shrine-like paintings infused with Dominican cultural symbols—plants, animals, and glyphs—to develop a visual vernacular for the Dominican American community. Their work has been exhibited in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mexico City, and Madrid, at renowned galleries including Calderón Gallery, Wave Hill, The AHL Foundation, REGULARNORMAL, Sotheby’s Institute of the Arts, Adhesivo Contemporary, and Charlie James Gallery.
The exhibition launch was a celebration of culture and history, bringing together multiple artistic disciplines. Chef Sammy Gay curated a culinary experience translating the histories of the Lower East Side and The Bronx, while Dietician, Nutritionist, and Community Leader RD. Melanie Zuniga crafted specialty cocktails for the evening. Compositional duo Christian Rodriguez and Sahiba K. Johar contributed an original musical piece, combining anthropological and historical research to further explore the exhibition's central theme:
What is the history of this place, and how are we connected to it?
This immersive event honored nearly 20 years of NYC Salt’s mission to empower young artists and celebrate diverse creative voices.
Moleskine Store, Moynihan Station, NYC
This past summer, NYC Salt alumnus BRONKS presented Un Verano en Nueva York, a vibrant exhibition capturing the energy, color, and rhythm of the city through 64 hand-illustrated Moleskine notebooks.
BRONKS, part of NYC Salt’s first cohort in 2005, transitioned from photography to art during the pandemic. His work, influenced by his background in video editing, photography, and 3D design, created a distinctive visual language reflecting his Dominican-American heritage and deep connection to New York City.
The opening night on July 16 was a lively celebration featuring music, drinks, and food, bringing to life the spirit of a New York summer.
NYC Salt
Our first-year High School Residency students showcase their work for the first time, highlighting their growth and creativity through photography.
Blow Up Gallery, Amsterdam
NYC Salt is honored to celebrate Black History Month with the opening of an exhibit of two of our emerging artists at Blow Up Gallery in Amsterdam on February 2, 2023. Malike Sidibe will be showing images from the NYC Black Lives Matter Protests and his fashion portraiture work. Daniel Martinez will be showing work on his project, "A Gated Community" which tells the story of a basketball court and the community in and around it.
Malike Sidibe is a 25-year-old African artist (originally from the Ivory Coast). Besides producing beautiful work that is influenced by his African heritage, Sidibe has gained global recognition for his emotive and poignant images documenting the Black Lives Matter Movement. His clients includes Time Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, MET Museum, Nike, Instagram, Footlocker, Nikon USA, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, Stern Magazine, The Atlantic, Esquire Magazine, Town and Country Magazine, and many others.
Daniel Martinez is Bronx born and bred. He is a 29-year old artist, inspired by his upbringing & Puerto Rican culture, he strives to create meaningful projects that document his thoughts, relationships & life experiences. Between photographing weddings, documenting his neighborhood and his immersion in the arts, his style continues to develop with a genuine love of content creation and self expression. Daniel is not only a photographer, but a painter, filmmaker and illustrator.
Unseen Photography, Amsterdam
We presented two of our emerging artists at Unseen, showcasing three bodies of work: a collection of portraiture, a documentary project capturing the first few days of the Black Lives Matter protests in NYC from 2020, which was published in Time Magazine and The New York Times Magazine, and a documentary story about the community of a local basketball court in the South Bronx. These photographs offered a unique perspective on fashion, conflict, and community in New York City.
Malike Sidibe is a 25-year-old artist (originally from the Ivory Coast). Besides producing beautiful work that is influenced by his African heritage, Sidibe has gained global recognition for his emotive and poignant images documenting the Black Lives Matter Movement. His clients include Time Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, MET Museum, Nike, Instagram, Footlocker, Nikon USA, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, Stern Magazine, The Atlantic, Esquire Magazine, Town and Country Magazine, and many others.
Major themes in my portraiture are movement and surreal visual-scapes. I love playing with the subjects, frozen still as if suspended in a dream, sometimes placing them deeply set within their environments, such as in my Mamiwata Series, or conversely, existing on their own plane, as if my lens had the power to suck the air out of the room. I’m especially focused on this technique when capturing a moving subject. A silk scarf swaying in harmony with a woman or pearls dancing from the cap of a seemingly still man, capture the traces of a subject who is most interesting in my eye when they are moving and in harmony with the space.
"Everyone has a story to tell." Those were the words that stuck with me long after hearing them in my first photography class at NYC Salt. When I tell people I grew up in The Bronx, sometimes they do a double take. The Bronx is known as “the boogie down Bronx”, “the birthplace of hip hop”, and “the place you might not want to be after the sun goes down”. Despite the occasional negative comments, I see it as the beautiful place that shaped me into the person I am today.
Community has always been a big thing for me. Growing up and living in the same apartment my whole life has allowed me to really understand where I come from. At the age of fifteen I got my first camera and quickly noticed there was a great feeling that came along with the photos I would capture. Besides keeping me out of trouble, photography allowed me to open up as a person and feel comfortable sharing my ideas and dreams with family and friends. Not until I graduated from high school did I revisit my teacher saying, "Everyone has a story to tell. … when searching for that story, look where you're most comfortable and start close to home.” I might have taken that sentence a little too literally when I began my first project titled "A Gated Community.”
Starrett-Lehigh Building, NYC
Reckoning with our childhood is one the most important steps in moving forward into adulthood. The peoples and places, traditions and mental spaces that defined our youth engrain themselves in us, becoming our home. A house is a physical space, but a home is an idea. With this in mind, the exhibition space mimics environments where participating artists discovered a sense of home. From pastoral settings such as living rooms and kitchens, to scenes that mimic the natural and manmade landmarks of each artist’s motherland, artworks will be presented in the very habitats that inspired their creation.
As recent SALT Alumni and young artists at the beginning of their professional careers, this exhibition aims to capture that moment of “emergence” from childhood to adulthood. Through their work, participating artists will negotiate how their roots and early experiences will define their artistry, and in turn, themselves.
As SALT’s mission is to “engage, inspire, and empower youth from underserved, predominantly immigrant communities in New York City…” many artists’ work investigates the cultural practices and physical attributes of their motherland. While many of the exhibition’s artists hold roots in Latin America, African and Indian cultures are also explored.
Check out the incredible work our artists exhibited:
Artists: Aranxza Lopez, Bronks, Devin Osorio, Christian Rodriguez, Kedwien Valdez, Joel Bautista, Malike Sidibe, Nora Molina, Robbie Ginsberg, Stella Estrella, Stephanie Ayala.
Charlie James Gallery, LA
Charlie James Gallery is delighted to present a solo show of Mexico City-based artist Devin Osorio titled Who Am I But a Heights Kid, opening April 23rd at the gallery from 6-9pm. This is Osorio’s first solo show with the gallery. Devin Osorio (b. 1993, New York) grew up as a first-generation Dominican American in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. Osorio takes inspiration from Dominican culture and folkloric traditions, including a strong emphasis on textile patterns. These cultural influences merge with biographical details from Osorio’s lived experience, yielding paintings that function as secular reliquaries, commemorating a life lived between cultures. Who Am I But A Heights Kid is an exhibition of paintings, installation, and works on paper executed by Osorio as a means of both self-introduction and self-examination. The works investigate moments of elation and trauma in Osorio’s life, and they contain the array of complex emotions Osorio holds for Washington Heights. The paintings and works on paper employ a folk art structure to fuse ritual and personal history. Tinges of Magical Realism operate within the works, as Osorio revisits the games, stories and nursery rhymes of his youth, and soars in and out of landscapes within the works.
Words from the artist on the exhibition:
“Throughout this work, I fell in love with the ways in which Betye Saar organizes and reflectively combines objects such as one does with pen ink and a journal page. Henri Rousseau’s insanely active imagination and fearlessness to articulate allowed him to travel the globe never stepping foot out of France, and the ways in which Pepin Osorio is able to create work that makes me feel at home and question those exact notions. When I was a child, I came across Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach and for the first time saw my community and myself depicted in something important - a book, thus making me feel as though I was important as well. Ever since I began creating work that was dedicated to my neighborhood I’ve hoped to make Ringgold proud and, if lucky, make someone else feel as I did when I stumbled upon her book and devoured its beautiful and joy-inducing contents.
Overall this show is an act of growth and an act of love. Throughout this process, I’ve learned about the material, the process of painting, and how to modify my daily acts in order to be my best self during my studio time. This show will be the first time I showcase large-scale works on paper, which is now a practice that I’ve learned to love. The texture and the absorbency of the painted paper remind me of frescos and make me feel as though I am painting a mural rather than on a piece of paper taped to the wall. Connecting me to an art history that I truly admire and am grateful that it’s venerated deeply in Mexican soil and its diaspora.”
Joyce Kilmer Park, NYC
NeON Arts selected NYC Salt, a nonprofit photography program for NYC youth, to facilitate a visual arts program, teaching photography to young adults with the goal of beautifying local communities in NYC. As a sponsor, SONY generously provided cameras for the students and supported the resources for this exhibition.
In addition to learning the fundamentals of photography and visual storytelling, the student participants had the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones by engaging with their community and telling powerful stories through the lens of a camera. Most importantly, the students built a strong community amongst themselves, fostering trust, support, and lasting friendships.
We celebrated our young artists: Joselyn Herrera, Aishah Nimaga, Rita Madu, Inyce Little, Mariam Wague, Aurellia Hodge, and Akudo Duruajonuma. Thank you for beautifying the South Bronx with your impactful imagery!
NYC Salt, NYC
Dancing With Light showcased 44 stunning images displayed on banners throughout the park, featuring work from our high school students’ portfolios. The exhibition brought photography to life with student-led tours, professional portrait sessions, and a collection of prints and books available for purchase.
This immersive experience highlighted the talent and creativity of NYC Salt’s young artists, celebrating their unique perspectives through the art of photography. As we begin to ascend from darkness into light in this year of the pandemic, the students at NYCSALT have spent the last year exploring the essential element that makes great photography: light. It’s the search for their light that our students have been on since last September. Their quest was to find light that is their own and makes their work unique. And when they found their light, they were expected to dance with it. These dances went from a simple box-step to fully free-form movement. I hope you enjoy dancing with all the varied light in Dancing with Light.
Hudson River Park, NYC
In collaboration with Hudson River Park, NYC SALT is excited to present the work by our alumni who participated in our emerging artist program this past year. They capture vibrant, dynamic communities in their own distinct voice, inviting you on a visual journey, revealing the cultural consciousness of the world that surrounds them. This outdoor exhibition celebrates and showcases their fascination for discovery, play, and documenting visual histories.
Explore the incredible photography our artists exhibited:
Clement Clarke Moore Park, NYC
This powerful outdoor exhibition featured 49 images from NYC Salt’s 2020 self-published book, showcasing how our students coped with the pandemic and responded to the racial justice movement. Through photography, poetry, and mixed media, they shared personal reflections on resilience, identity, and social change. Displayed along the fence of Clement Clarke Moore Park, this exhibition invited the community to experience the students’ voices and celebrate their work.
I write this at an historic moment.New York City has experienced quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we have had to reinvent our curriculum and student experience, moving to a completely online format. Zooming has become part of our daily vocabulary. The faculty and students have responded beautifully, adapting and supporting each other with the changing times. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been experiencing a social revolution unlike any other we have seen in New York City or in our country in the past several decades, resulting in what we hope will be real, long-term change for the better. These are times of both fear and optimism. We are so grateful to everyone who has made it possible for NYC Salt to continue this year — to all of our partners, friends, and team members who have been so generous with their time, talent, and treasure. This book replaces our annual gallery show that is a beloved event for our students, mentors, faculty, and community — an event that inspires pride and confidence and a whole lot of celebration. Thank you for showing up, purchasing the book, and helping us continue our work. Alicia hansen
This book is about how our students cope with the pandemic. In their own unique visual voices, they have incorporated many things: still images, video, poetry, words, drawing and whatever else they need to communicate their ideas. In reaction to the murder of George Floyd and the swell of protests all over the world, they are also speaking loudly about race in this country.
Grey, NYC
Throughout March 2020, four premier ad agencies hosted Pas de Deux, an exhibition showcasing the work of six NYC Salt alumni alongside photographers from the advertising industry. This initiative not only highlighted diverse visual voices but also fostered mentorship and collaboration between emerging and established creatives.
Each agency hosted the exhibition for a week, featuring opening receptions, artist talks, and opportunities to purchase prints, with all proceeds supporting NYC Salt’s arts education and college-preparatory programs.
Viabizzuno, NYC
We celebrated the culmination of NYC Salt students Christian Restrepo, Gisele Placeres, and Grace McNally's photographic journey in Japan. Selected to represent the U.S. in a prestigious photo competition, they spent 10 days in Japan on a full scholarship.
The exhibition featured specially curated collections of their work created during Higashikawa, Japan's fifth annual Youth Fest. Attendees had the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences, anecdotes, and insights from the students and their mentor, Michal Kaminski, while enjoying a private gallery reception and the chance to collect original prints from our talented young photographers.
Bath House Studio, NYC
On June 13, 2019, NYC Salt hosted its Annual Photography Show, featuring a specially curated exhibit of student photo essays and stories around the theme "Dimensions." The event was held at Bath House Studio from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, offering guests the chance to view original artwork by our emerging photographers. It included a private gallery reception with a fabulous menu, and a special photo booth designed by Malike Sidibe for portraits.
A special VIP reception took place from 6:00–7:00 PM, providing early access and a chance to get portraits made without waiting in line. All proceeds from the evening supported NYC Salt's arts education and college-preparatory programming.
Bath House Studio, NYC
On June 7, 2018, NYC Salt celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary Photography Show, It’s Personal, at Bathhouse Studios. This special exhibition showcased a curated collection of student photo essays and visual stories, offering an intimate look into the personal journeys and perspectives of our young photographers.
Guests had the opportunity to meet the artists, hear their stories firsthand, and experience their work up close. The evening featured a private gallery reception with a carefully curated menu, creating a welcoming space to celebrate a decade of impact through photography.
The event began with an exclusive VIP reception, followed by the main Anniversary Reception, where attendees could view and purchase affordable prints created by our students. All proceeds supported NYC Salt’s mission to provide arts education and college-preparatory programming to young artists from underserved communities.
Check out the powerful work exhibited at It’s Personal and explore the unique perspectives of our emerging photographers.
This show was a reaction by the students and alumni to the 2016 Presidential Election. It focused on their anger and fear for what they saw happening to the country.
An interpretation by SALT students of what America symbolized to them personally.
Since 2010, NYC Salt's End-of-Year Shows have provided a platform for young photographers to share their vision, creativity, and personal narratives. From 2010 to 2017, these exhibitions highlighted the artistic growth of our Residency Program, Photo Club students, and alumni, fostering a community built on mentorship, storytelling, and artistic excellence.
Your purchase of a print helps fund our photography programs and gives young artists a platform to showcase their work.
Your donation can provide critical resources for our programs and help young photographers reach their potential.
