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Richard Renaldi is a New York-based photographer known for his thought-provoking monographs like "Fall River Boys" (Charles Lane Press, 2009), "Manhattan Sunday" (Aperture, 2016), "I Want Your Love" (Super Labo, 2018), and more. Today, we're excited to revisit his acclaimed series "Touching Strangers," which began in 2007. This series features intimate portraits of strangers who, despite being unfamiliar with each other, are captured in close physical contact, challenging our ideas about connection and personal space.

The Aperture monograph was published in 2014, and this year marks its 10th anniversary. Renaldi has unveiled a new online gallery featuring 84 images from the series that were not included in the original book, many of which have never been seen before. Scroll down to explore these captivating photographs!

More info: Instagram | renaldi.com | x.com | flickr.com

#1

Dominek And Jennifer, New York, NY, 2013

Dominek And Jennifer, New York, NY, 2013

© Richard Renaldi Report

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Touching Strangers," Renaldi has not only launched a new online gallery with 84 additional images from the series but is offering a signed print of "Chris and Amaira" in a limited edition of 15. If you're interested in purchasing it, visit Charles Lane Press.

"It feels like ten years went by really really fast," Renaldi reflected on his "Touching Strangers" series. "I think the project is aging well and that the themes and concepts that the work raises are just as relevant today. One insight that I gained after putting the work out into the world was that the viewer, even knowing that the people in the photographs were strangers, would still have a strong impulse to create a narrative about the relationship of the people in the photographs. That the impulse to understand or imply a relationship between two or more subjects who were total strangers and not related in any way other than their common humanity would be surprising to me."

#2

Chris And Amaira; Chicago, Il, 2013

Chris And Amaira; Chicago, Il, 2013

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#3

Abeth And Sebastian; New York, NY, 2011

Abeth And Sebastian; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

We asked Renaldi about the inspiration behind his "Touching Strangers" series, and he reflected on the experiences that led him to the project.

"Working on the streets as an environmental portraitist, I was aware of the mass of humanity constantly intersecting on the streets and avenues of New York City. Attentive to the reality that the majority of the millions of people in the city are strangers to each other, I was curious about the connections that exist between us regardless of that fact and the potential for intimacy between strangers. Thinking of the people in the city linked by an invisible adhesive, I wanted to make those connections visible and so when I started working on 'See America by Bus' and photographing strangers together on communal benches at Greyhound Bus Stations, it occurred to me that someday I could try and intentionally make portraits of strangers together like the way I was currently doing on those bus station benches but pose them somewhere out in the world and ask them to step outside of their zones of comfort and physically touch each other. What would that look like?"

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#4

Emma And Charisse; Cincinnati, Oh, 2014

Emma And Charisse; Cincinnati, Oh, 2014

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#5

Leslie And Solomon; New York, NY, 2013

Leslie And Solomon; New York, NY, 2013

© Richard Renaldi Report

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We asked Renaldi how the themes of "Touching Strangers" resonate differently today compared to when it was first published. The artist explained that the themes are open to individual interpretation, with each viewer experiencing and perceiving them in unique and varied ways.

"I do think that the universal desire for intimacy is a constant. Illustrating a world where people of various races, religious affiliations, sexes, sexual preferences, and classes mix, interact, and pair up with each other certainly has as much value today as it did a decade ago. I think one thing I didn’t see on the horizon was the rise of fascism and authoritarianism that has spread across the world. Brexit and Trumpism are certainly forces where the consequences were to tear people apart and sow divisions and distrust from one another, which is a contrast, I think, with the intent of 'Touching Strangers', which, at its core, is about bringing people together."

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#6

Padayatra, Ortrun And Parvati; New York, NY, 2011

Padayatra, Ortrun And Parvati; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#7

Lila And Franco; Los Angeles, Ca, 2013

Lila And Franco; Los Angeles, Ca, 2013

© Richard Renaldi Report

Intimacy and connection are central themes in Renaldi's work. When asked about his future plans, the artist expressed his intention to continue exploring these themes, along with others such as desire, the environment, dance, and social class.

#8

Dawn And Greg, New York, NY, 2011

Dawn And Greg, New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#9

Carolyn And Diomedes; Brooklyn, NY, 2008

Carolyn And Diomedes; Brooklyn, NY, 2008

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#10

Floyd And Bill; Port Jervis, NY, 2011

Floyd And Bill; Port Jervis, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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moshegoldstein avatar
Mosh Gos
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful. I'm just thinking tho "I got nice pics, what's next? Ah yeah, lemme just hop into that there hospital"

#11

Madison, Janaki, And Dominic; Philadelphia, Pa, 2013

Madison, Janaki, And Dominic; Philadelphia, Pa, 2013

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#12

Kishar And Avital; New York, NY, 2011

Kishar And Avital; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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SandraG_lak
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a contrast! I think he appears non-materialistic whereas she has a huge designer bag.

#13

Shaliah And Daria; Hope Sound, Fl, 2011

Shaliah And Daria; Hope Sound, Fl, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

#14

Caleb, Augustine, Ryan, Ignacio, Christina, And Anthony; Kanorado, Ks, 2010

Caleb, Augustine, Ryan, Ignacio, Christina, And Anthony; Kanorado, Ks, 2010

© Richard Renaldi Report

#15

Amanuel And Deborah; San Francisco, Ca, 2012

Amanuel And Deborah; San Francisco, Ca, 2012

© Richard Renaldi Report

#16

Eddie And Winnie; New York, NY, 2011

Eddie And Winnie; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#17

Smitty And Asia; Albuquerque, Nm, 2013

Smitty And Asia; Albuquerque, Nm, 2013

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#18

Daniella And Jack; New York, NY, 2011

Daniella And Jack; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

#19

Elizabeth And Brandon; Milford, Pa, 2010

Elizabeth And Brandon; Milford, Pa, 2010

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#20

Felix And Thomas; New York, NY, 2010

Felix And Thomas; New York, NY, 2010

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#21

Sandra And Cyrus; New York, NY, 2011

Sandra And Cyrus; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#22

Melissa An William; Saugatuck, Mi, 2007

Melissa An William; Saugatuck, Mi, 2007

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#23

Richard And Mirelle; Cincinnati, Oh, 2014

Richard And Mirelle; Cincinnati, Oh, 2014

© Richard Renaldi Report

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shinemctyler avatar
CSC
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Richard seems like he might not be quite sure of what's going on but he knows he doesn't hate it.

#24

Anne And Crystal; New York, NY, 2012

Anne And Crystal; New York, NY, 2012

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#25

Lena And Rusafa; New York, NY, 2010

Lena And Rusafa; New York, NY, 2010

© Richard Renaldi Report

#27

Helen, Lidia, And Sary; Miami Beach, Fl, 2011

Helen, Lidia, And Sary; Miami Beach, Fl, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#28

Marie And John; Honolulu, Hi, 2012

Marie And John; Honolulu, Hi, 2012

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#29

Allen And Tara; Asheville, Nc, 2008

Allen And Tara; Asheville, Nc, 2008

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#30

Gracya And Terry, New York, NY, 2007

Gracya And Terry, New York, NY, 2007

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#31

Lynette And Dominic; Cincinnati, Oh, 2014

Lynette And Dominic; Cincinnati, Oh, 2014

© Richard Renaldi Report

#32

John And Juhee; New York, NY, 2011

John And Juhee; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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moshegoldstein avatar
Mosh Gos
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice pic. But it's super easy to add a knife in his hands and wham...

#33

Annemarie, Ryan, And Jack; New York, NY, 2011

Annemarie, Ryan, And Jack; New York, NY, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

#34

Siva And Janet; New York, NY, 2007

Siva And Janet; New York, NY, 2007

© Richard Renaldi Report

#35

Lou And Ofilia; Miami Beach, Fl, 2011

Lou And Ofilia; Miami Beach, Fl, 2011

© Richard Renaldi Report

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#36

Lindsay And Mark; New York, NY, 2007

Lindsay And Mark; New York, NY, 2007

© Richard Renaldi Report