Alec Dai, 27, Featured in CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers List
Alec Dai, a 27-year-old photographer hailing from New York and New Haven, has been recognized in CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers list. His artistic approach often features his own image as a mirror reflection or an outstretched arm, using landscapes to explore themes of identity. In June, Dai showcased his work at the Focus Art Fair with YveYANG Gallery, supported by the Yale MFA Dean's Travel Fellowship. He investigates his physical presence in landscapes marked by violent histories, drawing inspiration from artists like Zhang Ding, William E. Jones, and Philip-Lorca diCorcia. Notably, he has captured striking scenes, such as 'Naked in a dilapidated basement with a porn star.' Dai aspires for greater diversity in photography and wishes to share his art with his mother.
Key facts
- Alec Dai is 27 years old and based in New York and New Haven.
- He is featured in CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers list, which spotlights 14 artists aged 30 or younger from around the globe.
- His June presentation at Focus Art Fair was with YveYANG Gallery.
- He produced work through the Yale MFA Dean's Travel Fellowship.
- His visual influences include Zhang Ding, William E. Jones, Tseng Kwong Chi, Leslie Cheung, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Merry Alpern, and Ren Hang.
- He came out to his mother at the Guggenheim's Mapplethorpe retrospective.
- He described his craziest shooting situation as 'Naked in a dilapidated basement with a porn star and a really weird portrait of Jesus.'
- He wants to see more butts, more color, more thought, and more mixing of forms in photography, and less referencing for the sake of referencing.
Entities
Artists
- Alec Dai
- Zhang Ding
- William E. Jones
- Tseng Kwong Chi
- Leslie Cheung
- Philip-Lorca diCorcia
- Merry Alpern
- Ren Hang
- Robert Mapplethorpe
Institutions
- CULTURED
- Focus Art Fair
- YveYANG Gallery
- Yale MFA Dean's Travel Fellowship
- Guggenheim
Locations
- New York
- United States
- New Haven
- Bensonhurst