Why I made this book
For two summers I walked the streets of New York with my camera, listening to and learning from people who opened their lives to me.
All of them had lost their homes, but never their dignity. Rejected by their families for simply being who they are, they found strength in chosen families and in community.
This book was born from those encounters. It is more than a collection of images, it is a testament to resilience, love, and survival in a world that too often looks away, at a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack worldwide, and especially in the United States.
from the streets to the heart
A powerful new photobook by Ernst Coppejans
Through portraits, cityscapes, and intimate stories, this book captures the resilience, vulnerability, and beauty of LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced homelessness in New York City.
An invitation to see, to feel, and to stand with those too often left unseen.
Bring the story to your walls
Alongside the book, I’m releasing a curated selection of limited edition prints from From the Streets to the Heart.
Each print is museum-quality, signed and numbered, available in a small edition only.
By collecting a print, you not only own a piece of this powerful project you directly support the visibility of LGBTQIA+ stories and the continuation of my documentary work.
from the streets to the heart
A powerful new photobook by Ernst Coppejans
Through portraits, cityscapes, and intimate stories, this book captures the resilience, vulnerability, and beauty of LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced homelessness in New York City.
An invitation to see, to feel, and to stand with those too often left unseen.
Why I made this book
For two summers I walked the streets of New York with my camera, listening to and learning from people who opened their lives to me.
All of them had lost their homes, but never their dignity. Rejected by their families for simply being who they are, they found strength in chosen families and in community.
This book was born from those encounters. It is more than a collection of images, it is a testament to resilience, love, and survival in a world that too often looks away, at a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack worldwide, and especially in the United States.
Bring the story to your walls
Alongside the book, I’m releasing a curated selection of limited edition prints from From the Streets to the Heart.
Each print is museum-quality, signed and numbered, available in a small edition only.
By collecting a print, you not only own a piece of this powerful project you directly support the visibility of LGBTQIA+ stories and the continuation of my documentary work.