A selection of images from an ongoing series by Chinese-American photographer Lia Elms and London-based writer and art historian Spencer Hurley. The collaborative project interrogates how interior spaces reflect the identities of New York youth. Elms and Hurley argue that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, bedrooms became “our everything”—a single constant amidst a rapidly changing environment. As such, collecting images of their friends, alongside their personal spaces and ephemeral materials, is an attempt to capture something of the people themselves:

“As artists, our rooms are extensions of our identities‚ part studio, part library, part bedroom. We share a deep connection to our personal spaces, and many of the individuals we photographed are artists themselves who feel the same. Through these portraits, we got to see a glimpse into their minds via the environments they create for themselves.”

Lia Elms and Spencer Hurley participated in our 2025 Booooooom Art & Photo Book Award and made our shortlist.