A child of New York City at the turn of the millennium, Gray Sorrenti grew up with photography as a second language, using still images to tell stories about the world around her. Born into a lineage of influential fashion photographers, including her late uncle Davide Sorrenti and her father, Mario Sorrenti, renowned for his iconic Kate Moss Obsession campaigns,creation was a constant presence in her life. Deeply shaped by this environment, Sorrenti began taking photographs in her early teens, gradually developing a distinct visual style by documenting her generation’s youth culture, from skateboarding and illegal dirt biking to anti-Trump protests across New York City. At just 24 years old, Sorrenti has built an impressive professional portfolio, shooting campaigns for brands such as Saint Laurent, Moncler, and Vans, and collaborating with figures including Rihanna, Alex Olson, and Chloë Sevigny.
Full segment featured in Issue 12 of Living Proof Magazine.
Photos and Interview by Niko Giovannoni
Who is Gray today? What’s the first thing that comes to mind?
I’m Gray. I’m from New York. I’m a small thought passing through time, full of love and passion. There’s a wildfire in my heart. It almost feels like the sun. I follow that feeling and live by that light.
You grew up surrounded by art and images. When did you realize you wanted to tell your own stories through your own eyes?
I only have my own eyes, and I like what they see and how they feel. It was never about realizing when I wanted to tell my stories. It was always fluid and natural. Something that felt good and right. Every time I take a photo, it’s like I’m smiling for the first time. Something immediate and freeing.
Do you ever feel like you’re being seen through your last name? How do you carry that legacy?
I love my family. They’re incredible people inside and out. For as long as I can remember, we’ve created art together. Photography, sculpture, painting, storytelling, writing. To be part of my family and their journey through time is a blessing. I’m inspired by each and every one of them.
What kind of relationship do you have with New York? What does the city give you, and what does it take?
New York is my love language. I see it before I close my eyes. It’s where I feel most inspired, grounded, and calm. Some people think that’s ironic, but I sleep and dream perfectly there. I love sticking my head out of a taxi window. The wind on my face. The people. The buildings. Some ugly, some beautiful. New York is my secret language. We understand each other without words.
Your images often feel like they live on skin. How do you find that kind of truth?
My photographs come from feeling. From my feeling and my subject’s feeling. If it feels right, I press the button. It’s the moment where you forget the world. Where silence exists. Where their eyes catch the feeling. Maybe it lives on skin because it’s real.
The body is central in your work but never objectified. What are you trying to say about the body?
Love and respect yourself. That’s it. We live in a time where judgment can be shattering. Follow your own rhythm. Your body is your vessel. We only have it for a short time. Treat it kindly. We are so lucky.
How much room is there for truth in the world of fashion?
There is so much room. I just wish people would loosen up. Let truth flow. There is space for honesty. It just needs to be made. The message can be powerful.
Read the full interview in Living Proof Magazine Issue 12, available on the Living Proof Patreon and Online Shop.
