Will Staley

“Missouri Boy,” a nonlinear collection of images shot on medium-format film, uses photography as a collaborative performance between myself and my closest friends to visualize a story of searching for home. Through recontextualizing childhood objects, my images conjure personal memories of my Missouri hometown in new urban spaces. Cowboy boots, a recurring motif in the work, symbolize the American West, with its promise of opportunity and new beginnings. Exploring what “home” is through integrating my personal memories with broader cultural references, “Missouri Boy” creates a hybrid archive.

Will Staley is a queer photographer based in New York City. Born in St. Louis, Staley explores memory, object attachments, and femininity throughout his creative projects.