Art & Photography: Wayne Lawrence

Wayne Lawrence is a St.Kitts born documentary photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. His work is a visual diary of his life experiences, and focuses on individuals and rituals within communities otherwise overlooked by the mainstream media. His photographs have been exhibited at the Open Society Institute, The African American Museum of Philadelphia, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art, The Corridor Gallery and The Calumet Gallery and have been featured in publications such as COLORS, Esquire, Essence, Mother Jones, Newsweek and The New York Times Magazine.

In 2010, Lawrence was selected as one of Photo District News’ 30 photographers to watch and received the Sony Emerging Photographer award (PDN’s Photo Annual) for this work on Orchard Beach. Of this work Lawrence writes, ‘Orchard Beach was dubbed the Riviera of New York when it was first built back in the 30’s mainly because of it’s grand design during that time. Over the years it’s been called many things like, Chocha Beach and The Puerto Rican Riviera but The Bronx Riviera is the name that is most popular and a name which I think somehow fits the work that I’ve done there.

‘When I started photographing at Orchard Beach, it was at a time when I was getting to know New York, having moved here from California, and I needed a place where I could grow as a photographer and where I knew that I wouldn’t mind spending a lot of time. So going to the water felt natural. I was drawn to Orchard Beach in particular because it’s man-made and has a reputation for being one of the worst beaches in New York. But to most of the people who go there, it’s the best thing happening during the summer’.