Brian Karlsson, Grammy-Nominated Photographer, Featured in CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers List
CULTURED magazine has included Brian Karlsson, a 28-year-old photographer from New York, in its 2026 Young Photographers list, which showcases 14 artists under the age of 30. In 2023, he earned a Grammy nomination for his collaborative photo book with They Might Be Giants. His vibrant images depict subjects in motion, and he compares his artistic approach to shuffling a deck of cards. Preferring to engage with unfamiliar environments, Karlsson aims to convey truths through his work, viewing his photographs as direct reflections of reality. Influenced by memories, dreams, and photographers such as Jeff Mermelstein, he critiques the practice of close-up photography of strangers as intrusive. Other notable photographers on the list include Alec Dai, Arielle Gray, and Ben Jastremski.
Key facts
- Brian Karlsson is a 28-year-old photographer based in New York.
- He was nominated for a Grammy in 2023 for a collaborative photo book with the band They Might Be Giants.
- Karlsson is featured in CULTURED magazine's 2026 Young Photographers list.
- The list spotlights 14 artists aged 30 or younger from around the globe.
- His creative philosophy involves picking up playing cards and shuffling them into a new deck to play solitaire.
- He prefers to work as a stranger in a strange town.
- His photographs are intended to provide answers as direct transcriptions of reality and objective truths.
- His visual influences include Jeff Mermelstein, Daniel Arnold, Jason Nocito, David Lynch, and Paul Bowles.
Entities
Artists
- Brian Karlsson
- Jeff Mermelstein
- Daniel Arnold
- Jason Nocito
- David Lynch
- Paul Bowles
- Bruce Gilden
- Richard Sandler
- Mark Cohen
- Alec Dai
- Arielle Gray
- Ben Jastremski
- Conall Kearney
- Suniko Bazargarid
Institutions
- CULTURED
- They Might Be Giants
Locations
- New York
- United States