Our Neighbors | Gail Albert Halaban

“The project reminded me that it's not just about framing a scene through glass, but about creating connections that make those scenes come alive. Windows, I realized, are not just architectural features—they are entry points to vibrant cultures of generosity, hospitality, and unexpected friendships.” - Gail Albert Halaban

For over twenty years, Gail Albert Halaban has captured intimate moments through windows, offering a glimpse into the lives of our neighbors around the world. What began as a personal project to connect with those who lived close to Albert Halaban evolved into a broader reflection on how communities are shaped by time, place, and social forces. The resulting imagery is always a collaborative creation between photographer and subject, with both contributing to decisions about location, timing, and the activity captured.

From Rome to the rapidly changing neighborhoods of Cartagena, Halaban's new photographs reveal not only the visible interactions between people in the windows but also the invisible forces such as economic, cultural, and political shifts that define contemporary urban life.

When the project started, Halaban often reached out to subjects through cold calls and social media. As those methods became less effective, she began forging deeper connections through local networks. In a time marked by changes in social structures, her photographs offer an alternative narrative - one that envisions renewed community and hope for meaningful connection in the future.e: (Detail) Beneath the Solemn Beauty, Paris, 2024, archival pigment print, 44 x 58 inches, image size, edition of 5.

About the Artist:
Gail Albert Halaban received her BA from Brown University and earned her MFA in Photography from Yale University. The artist has three monographs of her work, including Out My Window (PowerHouse, 2012), Paris Views (Aperture, 2014) and Italian Views (Aperture, 2019). Her work is in the collections of the George Eastman Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, Nelson-Atkins Museum, Cape Ann Museum, Getty Museum, Wichita Art Museum, and Minneapolis Institute of Art.