Photographer “Drift” Arrested at His Exhibition Opening

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Summary

  • Isaac “Drift” Wright arrested during his solo show at Robert Mann Gallery
  • He was charged with third-degree trespassing linked to previous climbs
  • An undercover officer at the event reportedly made the arrest

Isaac Wright, also known as “Drift,” was apprehended during his own art exhibition at the Robert Mann Gallery in Chelsea last Thursday evening. Within merely two hours of its commencement, New York Police Department officers intervened and arrested him on charges of unlawful entry into a private property (third-degree trespassing).

Wright, a former Army paratrooper, rose to fame by scaling skyscrapers and off-limit sites to take breathtaking aerial photographs. His artwork, frequently captured from precarious vantage points such as the Queensboro Bridge or the Empire State Building, attracted significant attention on social media platforms, yet also resulted in numerous legal disputes.

As a passionate follower of events, I can’t help but express my sentiments upon reading about an incident reported by Artnews. It seems an undercover officer managed to blend in with the crowd before making the arrest, a move that felt more like stealth than duty to me. If they had wanted to apprehend him, they could have simply visited his residence, I mused. Performing such actions among us climbers only deepens the mistrust that’s already present.

Previously, Wright spent four months behind bars in 2020 due to eluding law enforcement over multiple states. After being freed in 2021, he achieved financial prosperity by selling NFTs, yet his upward trajectory contravened the terms of his parole.

Initially, Wright’s inaugural solo exhibition named “Coming Home” aimed to signify a fresh start, but it concluded unexpectedly with his arrest. He was freed the day after. You can catch the exhibit “Coming Home” at Robert Mann Gallery until June 28.

Robert Mann Gallery
508 W 26th St Suite 9F
New York, NY 10001

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2025-05-19 16:55