Photographer Ryan McGinley, who made history at 25 as one of the youngest artists to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum, is opening his first New York exhibition in nearly a decade at Jeffrey Deitch. Titled "Night Shift," the show features photographs taken exclusively between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., capturing nocturnal scenes across New York City's five boroughs, from Coney Island to Lincoln Center, punctuated by his signature nude figures. In an interview, McGinley discusses his creative process, studio habits, and the surprising photo critique he received from his Verizon technician.
The exhibition matters because it marks McGinley's return to the New York gallery scene after a long absence, showcasing a body of work that revisits a conceptual gimmick from his early career—shooting only during nighttime hours. It reaffirms his enduring influence on contemporary photography, blending mainstream appeal with experimental roots, and highlights his ongoing exploration of queer identity, urban textures, and the vulnerability of the human form.