Loft Law: The Last of New York City’s Original Artist Lofts

A photographic investigation with around 50 New York artists still benefiting from the “loft” law, intended to protect financially troubled artists living illegally in the city’s commercial and industrial lofts from eviction.
Joshua Charow spent the past two years creating his first photography book about artists living under the protection of the Loft Law. The law, enacted in 1982 (Article 7-C of the Multiple Dwelling Law), granted protection and rent stabilization to thousands of artists who were living illegally in commercial and manufacturing zoned lofts in neighborhoods like Soho, Tribeca, and the Bowery after the manufacturing industry predominantly left Manhattan. Two years ago, he found a map of the remaining protected buildings, rang hundreds of doorbells, and photographed and interviewed over 50 artists who are still living in these incredible lofts to this day. As New York currently faces an unprecedented amount of vacant commercial space, this is the perfect timing for this incredible untold story.