Award-winning photographer, Ari Espay, splits his time between New York City and Santiago, Chile. Ari has shot documentary pieces, campaigns and editorial essays for magazines in the US and all over South America including; Architectural Digest, Vogue Latin America, Que Pasa, and ED. He has worked for Maybelline, Gillette, Corpbanca and Ferouch and has shot portraits for Presidents, internationally known actors, Emmy Award winning directors, Broadway performers, politicians and high profile business people.

Ari has won Chile’s prestigious Fondart Grant and was a 2022 American Photography 38 Chosen Winner, and a 2021 American Photography 37 Winner. In 2023, he was awarded an Honorable Mention in IPA/International Photography Awards for his series, "Butterfly Children" in the Deeper Perspective category and another Honorable Mention in 2021 in IPA's Editorial/Press Contemporary Issues. He was a finalist in National Geographic’s Photography Competition, “Luces de America” and in 2018 he was a ‘CHOSEN Winner’ in Latin American AI-AP.

With numerous gallery exhibitions, Ari’s recent show, “A Glimpse of Southeast Asia” was featured at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, a museum in Cento, Italy (2018 – 2019).  Other exhibitions include; “Art on the Avenue” (New York City 2021), “Mingalabar Myanmar”(Rome and Bologna, Italy - 2016) and “The Faces of EB” in New York City (2015). In 2012, he was named as Artistic Director of International Projects for Galeria64, the only gallery in Chile exhibiting photography exclusively.

He has published 4 books. As a photographer, his work can be seen in "Colors of San Miguel" and he was the editor for Erin Feinberg’s "Diehards"  and “King for a Day” . He was the photo editor for “2020 Unmasked” book which won 2 Honorable Mentions at the IPA/International Photography Awards for Documentary and Self-published book.

For 10 years, he taught photography workshops for National Geographic and their legendary photographers including, Joe McNally, Bob Sacha, Ira Block, VII's agency Ed Kashi and Magnum's David Alan Harvey. He has worked and traveled in more than 40 countries.

Ari speaks 3 languages and enjoys spending time in the mountains.