Casey Kelbaugh is a New York City–based photographer, founder, entrepreneur, investor and creative director. His wide-ranging photography career began over 25 years ago and his photos are known to be lucid, authentic and convey a palpable feeling of humanity.
Casey spent his early years in Princeton, NJ, but was primarily raised in Seattle, WA. After graduating from Middlebury College, he spent a year studying photography in Tokyo. His photographic education continued at the Photographic Center NW in Seattle through assisting scores of established photographers. In 2003, he relocated to New York and within a few months, found himself shooting large advertising campaigns and multiple assignments per week for The New York Times and a variety of other editorial and commercial clients.
In parallel with this, Casey founded Slideluck - a community-building arts organization which grew quickly into a globally recognized brand with chapters in more than 100 cities worldwide. In doing so, he built an extensive international network of exceptional photographers, videographers and creative partners. Building a buzzy, influential brand, maintaining partnerships, communications and managing a vast global network of stakeholders provided the experience needed to create CKA.
Many of Casey’s closest friends are accomplished members of the worlds of tech, venture capital, law, finance, development, government, arts, media and medicine. He spends considerable time adjacent to each of these spaces, and began investing in real estate, crypto and seed stage companies over a decade ago.
Beyond his creative expertise, Casey’s broad perspective, deep experience in communication, brand building, and global operations have been foundational in the success of Casey Kelbaugh Associates.
SELECTED PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
2025 - Kaatscast - The Long Path Interview
2025 - The New York Times - Art Basel Switzerland
2025 - The Kit - The Long Path Interview
2025 - The New York Times - Bolton Valley
2025 - Radio Catskill - The Long Path Interview
2024 - The New York Times - The Long Path
2024 - The New York Times - Venice Biennale
2024 - WNYC Brian Lehrer Show - The Long Path
2020 – VOGUE – OPEN STUDIO
2020 – La Repubblica – OPEN STUDIO
2020 – Airmail – OPEN STUDIO
2020 – W Magazine – OPEN STUDIO
2020 – ARTnews – OPEN STUDIO
2020 – OPEN STUDIO – Contemporary Artist DIY Projects (Phaidon)
2020 – On The Horn – Online Interview
2020 – Artnet – Six Feet Away – Distancing in the Catskills
2020 – Quoted Magazine – Catskills Quarantine Interview
2019 – L’Oeil de la Photographie – Quetico
2019 – Nowhere Magazine – Crossing Quetico
2019 – Born to Party/Forced to Work – Phaidon Book Publication
2018 – Quoted Magazine – Cover Interview
2017 – 50 Years of New York – Book Publication
2016 – We Love NYC Interview
2016 – Capturing Manhattanhenge – Land Rover
2016 – Staff Meals of the World – Slideluck Lunchshow
2015 – PhotoOp Interview
2015 – Artist Think Interview
2015 – House Seven – Soho House Istanbul Interview
2015 – Revista A La Moda Interview – Dominican Republic
2015 – Feature Shoot – Spring Break Miami
2015 – Adhesive Blog Interview
2015 – Amy&Pink Germany – Spring Break Miami
2014 – Huffington Post Interview
2014 – The New Yorker
2014 – Global Influencer Podcast Interview
2013 – Bushwick Daily Video Interview
2013 – Project Inkblot Interview
2013 – Part Magazine Interview – Colombia
2013 – Bedford + Bowery Interview
2012 – The Washington Post
2011 – Heritage Radio Network Interview
2011 – PMc Magazine Interview
2011 – WNYU Interview
2011 – De Volkskrant Review – Netherlands
2011 – Kunst Magazine – Germany
2010 – Resource TV Interview
2010 – Popular Photography Feature
2008 – Bloomberg TV – The Muse
2008 – WNYC – Brian Lehrer Show
2008 – Radio Nacional de Colombia
2007 – The New York Times
2007 – Pixtura Pixel, Brazil – Interview
2006 – Popular Photography
2005 – TimeOut New York
WRITING
2024 - The New York Times - The Long Path
2024 - East Village Cookbook - Recipe Contributor
2015 – The New York Times – Penthouse Underground
2015 – Nowhere Magazine – Venice Biennale
2014 – The New York Times – Iouri Podladtchikov Piece
2014 – GOOD Magazine – Josefine Campbell Nomination
2013 – Satellite Transmission – Belonging to Photography
2012 – Resource Magazine – Suprise, Surprise: It’s Who You Know
2010 – Middlebury Magazine – How to Take a Damn Good Picture
2001 – Beyond the Border – Stories of Young Travelers
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2025 – Tokyo International Photo Awards – Juror
2020 – Dead Sea Museum Photography Competition – Judge
2018 – ASMP Fine Art Portfolio Reviews – Reviewer
2017 – Tokyo International Photo Awards – Juror
2017 – Autumnal Exhibit – Arthouse.NYC – Juror
2015 – Going Pro eBook – Featured Photographer
2015 – EyeEm Photography Festival & Awards – Juror
2015 – Casa Sin Fin Photography Competition – Juror
2015 – GOOD Magazine – Photo Editor
2014 – Brooklyn Museum – Guest Lecturer
2014 – Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – Photography Juror
2014 – Rolling Stone – Argentina
2013 – Reader’s Digest – Guest Curator
2013 – PDNedu Annual Photo Contest – Juror
2013 – Luceo Student Project Award – Judge
2012 – Asian American Arts Alliance – Panelist
2012 – ASMP Fine Art Portfolio Reviews – Reviewer
2012 – Eyeist – Portfolio Reviewer
2012 – Slideluck Youth Initiative – Teaching Artist
2011 – School of Visual Arts – Photography MFA Guest Lecturer
2011 – Apex Art – Unsolicited Proposal Program Reviewer
2011 – ASMP Fine Art Portfolio Reviews – Reviewer
2010 – Photo NOLA , New Orleans – Lecture
2010 – Guinness World Record – Organized Largest Potluck Dinner
2008 – Oficina Da Luz, São Paulo – Lecture
2007 – Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn – Group Show
2007 – PDN World in Focus Travel Photo Contest – 1st Place, Snaps
2006 – Jen Bekman – Hey, Hot Shot! Award
2006 – International Color Photography Award – Fine Art
2005 – Altpick Awards – Travel Photography
2003 – Society of Professional Journalists – 1st Place Photo Essay
2002 – Real Change, Seattle – Outstanding Photography Award
2001 – Photographic Center NW, Seattle – Travel Photography Panelist
1998 – International Travel Exposition, Seattle – 1st Place Adventure
EXHIBITIONS
2025 - Telephone Exhibit - Wow Cafe, New York - Group Show
2025 - Telephone - Participating Artist
2020 – Telephone – Participating Artist
2015 – The Telephone Project – Participating Artist
2015 – The Reflected Eye, New York, Group Show
2014 – BAM, Brooklyn – Visuals for Satellite Collective Performance
2012 – White Box, New York – Postcards to Ai Weiwei
2012 – A Day.org, France, Denmark, Taiwan – Global Photo Exhibit
2008 – Jack the Pelican Presents, Brooklyn – Group Show
2007 – Fountain Art Fair, Miami – Exhibiting Artist
2007 – Heart Gallery, New York – Group Show
2006 – Humble Arts Foundation – Group Show #2
2006 – James Cohan Gallery, New York – Postcards from the Edge
2004 – Artists Space, New York – Night of 1000 Drawings
2004 – Plan B, New York – Group Portraiture Show
2002 – Vital 5 Productions, Seattle – Diptychs Group Show
2001 – King County Public Health Center, Seattle – Solo Exhibit
1997 – Tokyo Metropolitan Museum – International Artist’s Exhibition
1995 - Judith Schorr Gallery, Seattle - Solo Watercolor Exhibition
EDUCATION
2019 - FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License
1998 – Photographic Center NW - Selected Courses
1997 – Tokyo PhotoWorkshops
1996 – Middlebury College – B.A. Psychology