Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Josh Hailey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Josh, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Modern Past Present was born from loss, love, and the desire to preserve memory. After my grandmother passed away in 2009, I found boxes of her photographs tucked away in closets — fragments of her life waiting to be seen again. I assembled them into one large art piece, layering decades of her story into a single image.
That moment became the seed for what I do today: creating digital collage portraits that honor loved ones and the stories that shaped them. Each piece blends the past and the present, helping families archive and celebrate their most meaningful memories in a beautiful, lasting way.
This project remains deeply personal — a creative way to connect, to heal, and to honor those who continue to live through the images we keep.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m an artist and photographer from Mississippi, now based in New Orleans. I fell in love with the arts early in life and picked up a camera as a way to tell stories from my own perspective. For over 20 years, I’ve worked independently, creating deeply personal and collaborative storytelling projects through photography, collage, and mixed media. My work focuses on helping people see and share the larger narratives of their lives, and I value the connections that come from working one-on-one with others to bring those stories to life.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is the connection — working directly with people to create something deeply personal and meaningful to them. There’s something beautifully vulnerable about helping someone turn their memories, emotions, or experiences into art. It’s an intimate process, like sharing a meal or a moment that can’t be repeated, and it allows a piece of both of us to live in the work. Every project becomes a collaboration built on trust and storytelling. I’ve been lucky to create with people all over the world, and each time, I’m reminded how art can bridge hearts, preserve memory, and make something lasting out of the fleeting.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ve reached a point in my life and career where slowing down feels like the natural next step. For years, I’ve told stories through art and photography, often helping people preserve the beauty and emotion of their lives in a single piece. Lately, I’ve realized that what fulfills me most is working directly with people — creating meaningful, commissioned work that connects deeply with who they are. That same desire to connect and heal through creativity has led me to expand into the world of therapy, where I can help people in a slower, more intentional way. This new direction feels like an evolution — a merging of art, empathy, and presence that reflects where I am in my own creative process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.modernpastpresent.com
- Instagram: @modernpastpresent
Image Credits
www.joshhaileystudio.com