As a photographer and storyteller, Giles Duley documents life during the war, rather than the war itself, in a powerful, thoughtful and loving work. He recently opened Distortion/Memory/Resilience, a two-week exhibition in New York that showcases his powerful images, with some artistic touches offered alongside them. Two wooden school desks for children, placed in a simple room and filled with artworks made by children in Ukraine, for example, make one pause for thought.
The event differs from the usual gallery setups you’ll see at Frieze or other art shows. Duley’s offering – an intimate and thought-provoking immersive experience and performance – portrays characters affected by the ongoing cycle of war. The show is set inside an apartment on the 77th floor of a new development in the Sutton Tower on the Upper East Side, which has the best views of New York City you’ll ever see, hands down.
Duley first made his name photographing rock and pop bands (Oasis, Blur, Lenny Kravitz) for British magazines such as Select and GQ. But he became disillusioned with that life and set out to do something deeper with his camera. A career spent in active combat zones followed – Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine. He also set up his own NGO, the Legacy of War Foundation, which helps those trying to rebuild their lives after the war. Because when the tanks and the bombs, the soldiers and the reporters have packed up and gone, there are residents who have been forgotten by the world and who have to rebuild their lives with very little. Since 2017, LoW has raised over $4 million to support conflict-affected communities in Ukraine, Rwanda and Lebanon. (Proceeds from the sale of Duley’s current show will go to the foundation.)
Duley himself understands the direct impact of war more than most. In 2011, he was injured by an IED while working in Afghanistan. He almost died. He was carried out by two American paratroopers, placed in an induced coma, evacuated from his home in the UK and, after numerous operations, now has two prosthetic legs and an arm. Such a drastic accident was life-changing, yes, but the photographer hasn’t let it stop her in any way. He is still active, as busy and open to new ideas as ever.
Duley was recently “involved” by Reuters in their search for him the real identity of British street artist Banksy. While trying to track down the anonymous creator through several murals he painted on bombed-out walls in Ukraine, Written by Simon Gardner, James Pearson and Blake Morrison“We also learned that the two men who painted the wall were accompanied there by Giles Duley, the man with one arm and two prosthetic legs. Duley remains tight-lipped about his work with Banksy, but it’s very interesting that he facilitated the artist’s work in Ukraine using one of his War Legacy ambulances. That’s the other thing that’s extremely impressive about Duley. His disability, it seems, doesn’t stop him at all. “I’m stubborn,” he says. “Unapologetically so.”
Part of the immersion of Distortion/Memory/Resilience is meeting Duley himself. New Yorkers are extremely lucky to see the man, as he is usually based in the UK and is constantly on the road. Duley is a born runner. When he’s not in a war zone, he speaks at conferences around the world, lecturing thought leaders and entrepreneurs on the importance of courage and the power of understanding the plight of others. I was lucky enough to interview him at the prestigious V&A museum in London in 2025 and the audience was in awe from start to finish, with some guests crying as they came up to shake his hand; it’s hard not to be moved by this man’s unique and incredible story.
Duley is hosting several dinners as part of his New York showcase, prepared by himself — known as the “one-armed chef,” he had his own cooking show on Vice. These are open to the public, featuring cuisine from different parts of the world that takes one on a journey. After these dinners, Duley tells stories — they’ll be stories you’ll never forget. “Food has always been a calming influence in my life, my yin and yang in the work I do. I also have a rule that I won’t photograph anyone unless I’ve eaten with them first,” says Duley.
Duley has collaborated with Angelina Jolie on several projects. Of Duley, she says: “While some carry weapons to fight, he carries his camera. With the same fire and determination of any soldier on the front lines defending his country or his people, he fires his camera to protect and fight for humanity to win… Wars and weapons of war have taken his limbs, challenge his humanity and cannot break his spirit, the operations and desires of to this man for thirty years ago. He fights for all of us, a deep and thoughtful soul who has brought me back more than once with his art, he is an extremely talented creator.
Duley is also an explorer-in-residence for luxury travel company Kensington, which organizes high-end travel for curious minds and runs a program that “supports a group of intrepid storytellers and explorers around the globe who are committed to furthering our connection to each other and to this planet.” Which means he’s on the move a lot and won’t be in New York City for long. Go for the work, stay for the views. And if you’re lucky enough to meet Duley himself, you’re in for a rare treat.
“Deformation / Memory / Resistance” is at Sutton Tower, New York, until May 24, 2026. Views are by appointment. Dinner tickets are available here.
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