Richard Alicea: Four Decades Documenting NYC's Urban Culture

In a recent discussion with StreetArtNYC, Richard Alicea, a photographer from Queens, reflected on his four-decade journey capturing New York City's urban culture, encompassing everything from graffiti to architecture. Alicea, residing in Woodside, began his photographic journey in 1976 using a camera gifted by his brother, with his inaugural shot taken inside the GG train at Court Square. He pursued photography studies at New York Technical College in 1981 and acknowledges Mycal Watts as a significant influence. Initially attracted to graffiti in the 1970s, he later broadened his scope to include cultural parades. Alicea dedicates one to two hours to editing after each shoot and has never promoted his work. He captured the events of 9/11 from the Brooklyn Promenade and has noted neighborhood transformations. His photographs can be found on Instagram and Facebook. The interview was edited by Lois Stavsky.