Created over the course of seven months by New York Times & Vogue Italia published photojournalist Christian Lee, The Come & See Project is a series of black and white portraits that celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of a private American high school in Southern California. Lee personally shot and edited over 600 images throughout the extensive period and carefully handpicked 50+ to be exhibited within a private gallery space. The photos range from intimate portraits of students and teachers to wide shots that capture the breadth and depth of social and academic engagement during an unprecedented school year. Combining the stylistic attributes of fine art imagery and photojournalism, Lee constructs an emotional narrative about a community coming together to learn and grow while forging meaningful connections and creating positive memories following a destructive global pandemic.
(Artist Christian Lee, pictured above, a day prior to the opening of The Come & See Project gallery exhibition in Orange County, California)