Loft Law

A stunning visual journey through the last vestiges of New York City’s artist lofts

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, granted protection and rent control 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 left New York.

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 faces an unprecedented amount of empty commercial space, this is perfect timing for this incredible untold story.

'A new book is opening the curtains to the last creative residential sanctuaries left in the city.' '... captures a fading way of life' - ArtNet

'Joshua Carow's lively photo book reveals .. a generation of artists' lives on in downtown lofts...' - World of Interiors

'In his new book Loft Law, The Last of New York City's Original Artist Lofts, Charow intimately captures spaces and faces from the dwindling fraternity of auteurs protected under the 1982 New York law of the same name.' - Highsnobiety