The narrative that "New York is back" has been one that's dominating the media landscape since the beginning of summer 2021. With rising vaccination rates and the lifting of COVID-19 related restrictions, this summer has certainly looked vastly different than the last one. However as someone who has stayed in the city all throughout and has been documenting life in it, it has left me questioning where people think it had gone. Sure it looked a little different, but it's incredibly disingenuous to push the narrative that for over a year New York was a desolate landscape devoid of anything that made it New York.
I've compiled pertinent works from March 2020 to December 2020. Being a vast topic and a busy year, this was an especially hard one to edit down.
I've compiled pertinent works from March 2020 to December 2020. Being a vast topic and a busy year, this was an especially hard one to edit down.
Two girls on a citibike with masks on. June 2020, Brooklyn.
Teen skates over an overturned construction barrel in Washington Square Park. October 2020, Manhattan.
Majo Barajas working on her mural at Underhill Walls. April 2020, Brooklyn.
Pizza boxes at pizzeria working take out only. March 2020, Brooklyn.
Worker at a neighborhood market. April 2020, Brooklyn.
Tailor at cleaners. May 2020, May.
Farmer's Market stall. July 2020, Manhattan.
COVID-19 precautions at a neighborhood coffee shop. March 2020, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Tweed Ride participants. November 2020, Brooklyn.
Outdoor food market in Chinatown. April 2020, Manhattan.
A local on her stoop with a candy chute to distribute candy in a socially distanced manner during Halloween. October 2020, Brooklyn.
Musicians playing at Gantry Plaza State Park against views of the UN building. October 2020, Queens.
Musicians playing in front of the boathouse in Prospect Park. November 2020, Brooklyn.
Violinist playing under scaffolding in Soho. October 2020, Manhattan.
Dog under an umbrella in front of a hair salon. May 2020, Brooklyn.
Crowd listening to live music at Grand Army Plaza. August 2020, Brooklyn.
Outdoor dining at Francis Tavern. September 2020, Manhattan.
Owner showing off new cat on a walk. June 2020, Brooklyn.
Owner and dog dressed as cows at a local Halloween Dog Parade. October 2020, Brooklyn.
Weekly rave under a Prospect Park arch. September 2020, Brooklyn.
Couple embracing during a gathering to celebrate the Biden/Harris win. November 2020, Brooklyn.
Two women doing boxing exercises at the inactive fountain in Washington Square Park. May 2020, Manhattan.
Man fishing in Prospect Park. September 2020, Brooklyn.
People walking in Green Wood Cemetery during cherry blossom season. May 2020, Brooklyn.
Woman painting at The Mall in Central Park. November 2020, Manhattan.
An outdoor yoga class taking place in front of the Turtle Pond in Central Park. November 2020, Manhattan.
Picnickers at Brooklyn Bridge Park. April 2020, Brooklyn.
Kids sledding in Prospect Park. December 2020, Brooklyn.
Ice skating at Bryant Park. December 2020, Manhattan.
Family taking pictures in front of an LED USA flag in Times Square during Fleet Week. May 2020, Manhattan.
Kid playing with football at sunset at Rockaway beach. July 2020, Queens.
Looking at the fish at the Japanese Gardens at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. August 2020, Brooklyn.
Woman jumping rope on the sidewalk in front of her house. April 2020, Brooklyn.
Couple embracing outside of a beer hall. June 2020, Brooklyn.
Dad playing with kid on the Staten Island ferry. September 2020, Staten Island.
Governors Island Ferry. July 2020, Manhattan.
Family looking out at the view behind an NYC ferry. August 2020, Brooklyn.
Rainbow spotting. As a way for kids to interact with their environment during socially distanced walks outside, families around the city put up rainbow images in their windows. April 2020, Brooklyn.
An outdoor movie screening of Matilda at Bel Aire Diner. June 2020, Queens.
Pictures of high school graduates line a Brooklyn high school's fence. June 2020, Brooklyn.
Woman reading on fire escape. April 2020, Brooklyn.
Stoop with supportive chalk writing. May 2020, Brooklyn.
Family clapping at 7pm for essential workers. April 2020, Brooklyn.
Woman showing support with an air horn from an apartment during Black Lives Matter protests. June 2020, Manhattan.
Supporters banging pots during a Black Lives Matter protest. June 2020, Brooklyn.
Construction workers showing support to protests during the George Floyd protests. June 2020, Manhattan.
Protestor holding fake flower with gloved hand during the George Floyd protests. June 2020, Manhattan.
Protestors on Brooklyn Bridge Park during the George Floyd protests. June 2020, Manhattan
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Protestors vogueing during a Black Trans Lives Matter march. June 2020, Brooklyn.
"New York is Back"?
Rengim Mutevellioglu
Photographer
based in New York
Public Project
"New York is Back"?
1,315