Tommy Lei. (b.1988) Hong Kong-raised. Los Angeles-based. As featured on Chairish Best of Spring 2021 Photography, Saatchi Best of Photography in 2021, Architectural Digest, Domino, and Clever. Tommy picked up my first camera when he was graduating from high school. He’s never been caught without his camera since. His photography mainly stems from a fervent desire to beautify the mundane; and to celebrate the ordinary by making them extraordinary. There is an innate optimism, purity, and togetherness. He aspires to evoke a deeper level of intrinsic connection between the image and the viewer, whether it be a bystander or an audience. A photo is a film-like canvas for him, a painting in fluid motion, a visual poetic text with a sense of intrigue and resonance that comes from a visceral, emotional, and nourishing place. What makes the entire creative process rewarding for Tommy is that no single photo can be recreated; it is a literal timestamp. His body of work contains no staged or manipulated work (unless otherwise stated). Everything is as is, real-time, real life. He largely credits his immigrant upbringing and Chinese background as a major influence in how he approaches photography as both practice and visual language. Tommy’s wide range of captivating, limited-edition prints are collected from coast to coast and other countries including Canada, Italy, and South Korea.