Galician photographer Xan Padrón, born in Ourense in 1969, has spent decades documenting the essence of cities through the people who inhabit them. His passion for the everyday was sparked early on when photojournalist Enrique Reza handed him his first camera, while his father, journalist Luís Padrón, instilled in him the patience to listen and observe. After several street photography projects in New York City, Xan launched his acclaimed series, “Time Lapse,” in 2011—a collection of portraits that captures the unique character of urban life across various cities.
This project has taken Xan’s work far beyond his native Spain. His portraits have been showcased at prestigious venues such as the United Nations Headquarters in New York, The Pfizer Building, and Sala Valente in Spain, and more recently, he was invited by the MTA Arts & Design Program to exhibit at Bryant Park’s subway station in New York City. His work has also graced the pages of international publications like Die Zeit Magazine and Photo World Magazine, and even academic anthologies.
Deeply influenced by his background as a professional musician, Xan’s creative journey is marked by a rhythmic blend of sound and visual storytelling. Splitting his time between Galicia and New York City, with his studio based at Mana Contemporary in NJ, he continues to explore the pulse of urban life—one portrait at a time.
Time Lapse. Christopher Street, NYC 2023
Time Lapse. El Raval, Barcelona 2018
Time Lapse. Horatio Street in the rain 2024
Time Lapse. Hudson Square, NYC 2023
Time Lapse. Los Sitios, La habana 2024
Time Lapse. Palads Teatret, Copenhagen, 2023
Time Lapse. Shinsaibashi, Osaka 2024
Time Lapse. Snow Day, Midtown, NYC 2021
Time Lapse. SoFo, Stockholm, 2023
Images Context (Time Lapse Project brief)
