I have been a long-time fan of Ryan McGinley’s photography. His photographs capture honest moments of youthful hedonism without ever coming across as tasteless or vulgar. Whether you like the subject matter of his work or not, it is impossible to dispute his skill as a photographer. Rolling joints, tagging the sides of buildings, barfing or getting busy in the shower: his subjects clearly enjoy their lives and live a less inhibited existence than most ever will.

With a healthy resume of international exhibits under his belt and magazine credentials from the likes of Vice, Fader, and Dazed and Confused, it’s to no suprise that McGinley was recently chosen as Young Photographer of the year by the International Center of Photography.

“At 24, Ryan McGinley became the youngest artist to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. McGinley’s intimate portraits of graffiti artists, skateboarders, and musicians – many of whom are his friends – reveal contemporary youth subcultures with a keen, honest eye. He has quickly become known as a confessional artist in the mold of Nan Goldin and Wolfgang Tillmans, one who can not only navigate the fleeting, elusive world of kids coming of age in urban environs, but can convey the complexity of their lives with a camera. McGinley’s own life, including his sexuality, is also a significant focus of his work. Through his lens, bohemia appears as a site of deep and conflicted expression, and a constant struggle for meaning.”