Jay Santangelo (they/them) is an analog-obsessed visual storyteller, writer, educator, and amateur marathon runner. A proud transgender creative, Jay centers compassion, identity, and connection in every facet of their work—on the page, through the lens, and in the spaces they build.

Born and raised in Boston’s North End, Jay grew up surrounded by the rhythms of food, family, and neighborhood connection. That foundation laid the groundwork for a career rooted in hospitality, storytelling, and community care. Their long-form analog work—spanning photography, multimedia, and documentary film—focuses on often-overlooked communities and is driven by a deep commitment to empathy, visibility, and human dignity.

Jay studied photojournalism at the International Center of Photography in New York City, where they were awarded The New York Times Foundation Scholarship and apprenticed with the esteemed photographer Eugene Richards. Their time at ICP deeply shaped their documentary voice and visual approach.

After a seven-year hiatus from photography, Jay is reengaging their creative practice while also building a new kind of community space. They are the founder of WANDER Berkshires, a queer and trans-owned third space in downtown Pittsfield that merges hospitality, creativity, and belonging. WANDER is home to a recovery-focused café, an inclusive event venue, and the future site of the Berkshires’ first publicly accessible black-and-white community darkroom—a sanctuary for connection and creative expression.

Jay previously spent over a decade in executive hospitality and operations roles in Austin, TX—including as Director of Operations at MML Hospitality and later as Director of Hospitality and Culture at the creative agency Preacher. These roles allowed them to merge human-centered leadership with culture-building and brand storytelling.

In 2022, Jay relocated with their family to the Berkshires in search of healing, purpose, and reconnection with nature. WANDER is the culmination of being both lost and found—a joyful, inclusive space where people are invited to come as they are, create, heal, and build something meaningful together.