Nostalgia & History: LUMEN ARCHETYPES — Portraits by Kristopher Johnson (Photo Essay)
As part of our Nostalgia & History series, this photo essay spotlights photographer Kristopher Johnson and his LUMEN ARCHETYPES—a powerful series capturing the diverse faces and vibrant community of Staten Island’s LUMEN festival. Through his iconic pop-up portrait studio, Kristopher documented the energy and creativity that transformed an industrial waterfront into a dynamic art hub. This essay honors not only Kristopher’s unique vision but also how the groundbreaking festival LUMEN redefined not just Staten Island’s waterfront, but also the idea of art as a communal and immersive experience.
If you’ve been to an event in the last 10 years or so, chances are you’ve seen Kristopher Johnson’s Pop-Up Portrait Studio.
In 2011, Kristopher began photographing people at LUMEN, an annual international visual and performance art festival on Staten Island, NY. He originally intended to focus on the artists participating in the event, but many were too busy to pose. So, he shifted his lens to those attending. That year, he captured 52 portraits—marking the beginning of his LUMEN ARCHETYPES series. It also marked the birth of the Deep Tanks Photo Booth, a pop-up portrait experience that would become a recurring presence at community and art events.
Since then, Kristopher has returned to LUMEN year after year, documenting both artists and visitors. In 2016 alone, he photographed over 600 people in just six hours.
This photo essay includes selected portraits from the LUMEN ARCHETYPES series—snapshots of a creative community in motion.
LUMEN was a groundbreaking video and performance art festival that transformed Staten Island’s industrial waterfront into a surreal, immersive art experience for seven years.
Featuring site-specific video installations, 3D projection, sound-based performances, and interventions by over 70 local and international artists, the festival became a magnet for innovation and community dialogue. Drawing a crowd of 4,000 people in its final year at the Atlantic Salt Co.—LUMEN celebrated transformation, migration, and change through light, sound, and salt, turning an industrial site into a stage for the avant-garde.
To see more of Kristopher Johnson’s portrait work and ongoing projects, visit kristopher-johnson.com or follow him on Instagram at @kristopherjohnsonphotography
Jahtiek Long is an interdisciplinary artist, musician, community organizer, and co-founder of the Shaolin Art Party. He loves photographing the island and playing the ukulele. Jahtiek is passionate about shifting the narrative surrounding Staten Island and showcasing the vibrancy of the borough. He’s also really excited about all the new Ramen spots popping up. @Jahtieklong