Jan Staller, Constructor of Image

The New Yorker

by Nick Paumgarten

February 23, 2026

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Jan Staller, a photographer known for capturing the overlooked beauty of construction sites, has turned his lens on the halted Gateway tunnel project in New York City. Despite facing political and financial challenges, including a funding freeze under former President Donald Trump, Staller continues to document the site with his signature artistic approach, transforming cranes, beams, and other industrial elements into sculptural, abstract forms. His work highlights both the engineering marvels and the bureaucratic struggles surrounding this critical infrastructure project. The Gateway tunnel project aims to build new passenger train tunnels under the Hudson River and rehabilitate existing ones damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Over three decades of political infighting and funding shortages have repeatedly delayed progress. Federal funding was finally secured under President Joe Biden, but Trump’s administration later withheld it, citing unrelated demands like renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport after him. This led to a shutdown last fall, leaving over 1,000 union workers unemployed. Staller’s connection to the project runs deeper than just photography; he has spent decades documenting Manhattan’s construction sites since the mid-1970s. His latest focus, detailed in his new book *Manhattan Project*, explores the abstract beauty of building materials and machinery. Staller finds inspiration in the transitional spaces where decay and renewal intersect, capturing elements like cranes and rebar against New York City’s gray skies. His work transforms what might seem mundane into artful expressions of urban transformation. For readers interested in culture, Staller’s photography offers a unique lens through

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Originally published on The New Yorker on 2/23/2026