As a photographer and storyteller, Giles Dooley documents life during war, not the war itself, in a powerful, thoughtful, and loving work. He recently opened a two-week exhibition titled “Distortion/Memory/Resilience” in New York that showcases his powerful images, with some artistic touches alongside them. For example, two wooden children’s school desks, placed in a simple room and filled with artwork made by children in Ukraine, make one stop for thought.
The event is different from the usual gallery settings you’ll see at Frieze or other art shows. International Show – an intimate and thought-provoking immersive experience and display – depicting characters affected by the ongoing cycle of war. The show takes place inside an apartment on the 77th floor of a new Sutton Tower development on the Upper East Side, which has the best views of New York City you’ll ever see.
Dooley originally made a name for himself photographing rock and pop bands (Oasis, Blur, Lenny Kravitz) for British magazines such as Select and GQ. But he became disillusioned with that life and set out to do something more profound with his camera. This was followed by a career spent in active war zones such as Sudan, Afghanistan and Ukraine. He also set up his own NGO, the War Legacy Foundation, which helps those trying to rebuild their lives after war. Because when the tanks and bombs and soldiers and journalists pack up and leave, there is a population that the world forgets and who need to rebuild their lives with very little. Since 2017, LoW has raised more than $4 million to support communities affected by conflict in Ukraine, Rwanda, and Lebanon. (Proceeds from the sale of the current international show will go to the foundation.)
Dooley himself understands the immediate impact of war more than most. In 2011, he was injured by an explosive device while working in Afghanistan. He almost died. He was taken by two American paratroopers, placed in an artificial coma, evacuated home to the UK and, after several surgeries, now has two prosthetic legs and one arm. Such a drastic incident was life-changing, yes, but the photographer didn’t let it stop it in any way. He is still as active, busy and open to new ideas as ever.
Reuters recently “unmasked” Dooley in its search for the true identity of British street artist Banksy. While trying to track down the unknown maker through some murals he painted on bomb-damaged walls in Ukraine, Written by Simon Gardner, James Pearson and Blake Morrison“We also learned that the two men who painted the wall were accompanied by Giles Dooley, the man with one arm and two prosthetic legs.” Dooley is still tight-lipped about his work with Banksy, but it’s great that he facilitated the artist’s work in Ukraine using one of his Legacy of War ambulances. That’s the other impressive thing about Dolly. It seems that his disability does not hold him back at all. “I’m very stubborn,” he says. “Unapologetically.”
Part of the immersion in “Distortion/Memory/Resilience” is meeting Dooley himself. New Yorkers are very lucky to catch a glimpse of the man, as he is usually based in the UK and travels frequently. Dooley is a born storyteller. When he’s not in a war zone, he speaks at conferences around the world, lecturing thought and business leaders on the importance of persistence and the power of understanding the plight of others. I was lucky enough to interview him at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2025, and the audience was mesmerized from start to finish, with some guests crying as they came to shake his hand; It’s hard not to be moved by this man’s unique and fascinating story.
Dooley hosts some dinners as part of his New York show, prepared by himself – known as the “One-Armed Chef”, he had his own cooking show on Vice. These are open to the public and feature cuisine from around the world that takes you on a journey. After these dinners, Dooley tells stories, and they will be stories she will never forget. “Food has always had a calming effect in my life, which influences the work I do,” says Dooley. “I also have a rule that I won’t photograph anyone if I haven’t eaten with them first.”
Duley has collaborated with Angelina Jolie on several projects. She says of Dooley: “While some carry a weapon to fight, he carries his camera. With the same enthusiasm and determination as any soldier on the front line defending his country or his people, he films with his camera to defend and fight for humanity to triumph… Wars and weapons of war have taken his limbs, challenged his humanity and could have broken his spirit. Thirty-seven surgeries and years on the front lines, and you simply cannot break this man’s desire to fight for his fellow man. He fights for us.” He is a man from whom I learned a lot. He has a deep and thoughtful soul and has restored my faith more than once. Through his art, he helps reconnect with each other, and above all, he is extremely creative and talented.
Dooley is also Explorer-in-Residence for luxury travel company Kensington, which organizes upscale travel for curious minds and runs a program that “supports a group of intrepid storytellers and explorers around the world committed to enhancing our connection to each other and this planet.” Which means he moves around a lot and won’t stay in New York City for long. Go for the work, stay for the views. And if you’re lucky enough to meet Dooley himself, you’re in for a rare treat.
Distortion/Memory/Resilience runs at Sutton Tower, New York, until May 24, 2026. Views are By appointment. Dinner tickets are available here.
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