Inside the 1980s NYC Art Scene with Bethany Jacobson

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, Bob Patterson and Ashley Riffo sit down with photographer, filmmaker, and educator Bethany Eden Jacobson for a conversation that was part time capsule and part behind-the-scenes look at a creative life. Bethany takes us back to the gritty, electric energy of 1980s downtown New York, which was an era where art, music, and rebellion collided. From photographing icons like Iggy Pop to documenting the underground scene shaped by figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat, her work captures a moment that was raw and unfiltered, and though she didn’t realize it at the time, transformative for the art world in general. But it wasn’t just the nostalgia that made this conversation interesting. We also talk about what it means to revisit your archive decades later, how filmmaking influences photographic storytelling, and why editing—whether for film or a photo book—is where the real work begins. Bethany also shares her thoughts on creative identity, resisting the pressure to “niche down,” and embracing a multidisciplinary approach in a world that often demands labels. It’s a great conversation for anyone out there in the wild navigating their own creative path right now. Links from the show Bethany’s Website Kickstarter for “Another Time, Another Place” – LAUNCHING APRIL 14TH Bethany’s Photo Book “Another Time, Another Place”

You can listen to Inside the 1980s NYC Art Scene with Bethany Jacobson online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Inside the 1980s NYC Art Scene with Bethany Jacobson is an episode from Street Photography Magazine by Street Photography Magazine Podcast.

This episode is 51:15 long.

This episode was published on Apr 10, 2026.

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