Tony Luciani: A mother and son's photographic journey through dementia

A mother and son's photographic journey through dementia

Artist Tony Luciani was testing out a new camera when his 91-year-old mother, Elia, snuck into the background of his photos. The spontaneous images that resulted sparked a years-long collaboration, with Luciani documenting his mom's life and spirit as she lived with dementia. In this touching talk, he shares the stories behind some of their favorite shots, capturing the joy and grief of caring for an aging parent.

A spontaneous photo session with a 91-year-old mother coping with memory loss transformed daily life into creative collaboration. By making art together, they brought joy, dignity, and laughter to moments often marked by frustration and grief. Even as dementia progressed, simple acts of participation and presence gave meaning for both caregiver and parent. Small creative projects, like teaching his mother to use a camera at age 93, became lasting sources of pride and purpose.