Denver local captures portraits of strangers to showcase humanity and spread love

Lurie began the project five or six years ago, after a second suicide attempt. He woke up in the hospital days later, thankful to be alive.

[Related: Suicide Prevention Resources]

“I decided I needed something to do, I needed a purpose,” says Lurie. “I wanted to do something that showed love and connection.”  

Lurie originally took landscape photographs, but soon found he was more drawn to people. He started approaching people at a festival in Morrison, asking them if he could take their picture.  

Back at his apartment, Lurie’s picture wall features dozens of portraits including ones from the early days of the project. He points to one young man, sporting a huge grin across his face.  

“He was one of my very first pictures, and I remember pointing my camera and having him beam this huge smile at m,” Lurie remembers fondly. “I think that’s all it took, I was hooked at that point.”  

Now, he frequents places like Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver’s 16th Street Mall, farmers’ markets, festivals — anywhere that people gather. Since starting this project in 2017, Lurie has amassed over five thousand portraits, all displayed on his Instagram page. 

“It would take you all day to go from the top to the bottom of my Instagram page,” Lurie laughs.  

While he’s not quite sure what the end goal of his project looks like, Lurie does know he wants to make a difference, no matter how small.  

“I want people to feel uplifted, like they belong to this human race as well,” Lurie says. “I hope the pictures emanate a kind of a love, and that people feel connected to that." 

You can follow along with the American Quilt Project here.