AJ Traylor headshot

AJ Traylor

2026 Bodies of Work

AJ Traylor (he/him) has had a love affair with photography for over two decades. While he has numerous other forms of art that he practices, it is one of his most consistent and enduring. AJ spent many years of his life evading the question of what it is that he would do if he didn't get paid to do it. The answer, the blatant answer, was always photography, and it is true--he has never been paid for it. AJ does it for the love. He did it because something about capturing the ephemeral electricity of a moment is essential to his spirit. He need to keep cultivating that boundless love--fraught with tension though it may be--between himself and the machines that he uses to translate what cannot be spoken. AJ told himself he was foolish because his dreams crashed against the craggy rocks of life. And then he abandoned them and abandoned himself. Everyone, AJ included, will get to witness his return and his rebirth, becoming inspirited and embodied with that art which gives him life, which writes the melody for the song of his soul.

Featured Artworks

  •  Photo of a black rapper passionately shouting into a microphone Digital photography
  •  Photo of a black guitarist soulfully singing into a microphone Digital photography
  •  Black and white photo of a black rapper with an afro performing Digital photography
  •  White male guitarist wearing a Pantera shirt sitting in front of a moving L train Digital photography
  •  Selective color candid photo of a beautiful woman walking up the stairs at Merchandise Mart Digital photography
  •  Black and white photo of the sunlight seeping through blinds in strips of light cascading across black skin Digital photography