We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Lucka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
As an autistic artist, I want to demonstrate the inner life and humanity of neurodiverse people. We don’t often have a platform in which to be so open about ourselves and the way we see and experience the world. For me, art facilitates this.

As a whole, my entire life I’ve wanted to fight for a better world. Much of my photography has been covering protests. Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, the protests against Trump, etc. I don’t pretend to be neutral. These are issues I care about and wish to lend my support to.

It’s the same with my portraiture and other assignments. I want to offer a space for others as photography has offered me. I’d like to give them back themselves, in the best light.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I shoot in a wide variety of genres. I think something or another of mine will appeal to somebody and the area they’re most interested in! I began shooting in 2009, with street photography and scenes of the city. Later on, I got into photojournalism in 2011 covering Occupy Wall Street

I’ve always been interested in distorting the line between natural and artificial. I like to edit in experimental ways with some images and create a radically new rendition of what would otherwise be a familiar form.
I find editing to be just as equal a process as taking the shot sometimes in producing something truly enthralling. There’s something that thrills me about just how malleable a photograph is in that regard.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d recommend Bar Dalia in Astoria, Queens. Alice Lipping is an artist in the neighborhood that has been curating incredible shows in this space. I have been fortunate to have been featured in several, along with many other incredible artists from the area!

The drinks are delicious and it’s such a comfortable space!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Alice Lipping and Andre Legaspi and Laura Caseley are three artists in my area that I respect tremendously!

Website: Christopherlucka.com

Instagram: @Ecstaticaperture

Other: (For my whole body of work:) https://www.flickr.com/photos/sainthuck

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.