Photographer and storyteller Giles Duley has opened a two-week exhibition titled “Distortion / Memory / Resilience” at Sutton Tower on the Upper East Side of New York. The show features his powerful images documenting life during war, alongside artistic touches such as wooden school desks filled with artwork by Ukrainian children. Duley, who lost two legs and one arm after an I.E.D. injury in Afghanistan in 2011, continues to work actively in war zones including Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Proceeds from the exhibition support his NGO, the Legacy of War Foundation, which has raised over $4 million since 2017 to help communities rebuild after conflict.
The exhibition matters because it offers an intimate, immersive experience that contrasts with typical art fair setups like Frieze, focusing on the human impact of war rather than spectacle. Duley’s personal story of resilience—surviving a near-fatal injury and continuing his documentary work—adds profound depth to the artwork. The show also highlights his recent connection to Banksy, as Reuters identified Duley as the facilitator who escorted the anonymous artist to paint murals on bomb-damaged walls in Ukraine. This exhibition underscores the role of art in bearing witness to conflict and supporting humanitarian recovery.