Rising Stars: Meet April Vertucci

April Vertucci

In the seedy underbelly of urban landscapes, April Vertucci, otherwise known as Harley Q Urbex, roams like a modern-day gonzo explorer armed with a camera instead of a typewriter. Her lens captures the soul of forgotten metropolises, where decay dances with rebellion, and chaos breeds art.

Harley’s urbex photography isn’t about pristine cityscapes; it’s a wild descent into the belly of the concrete beast. She traverses the liminal spaces where civilization meets entropy, where the neon lights of progress flicker amidst the rubble of history. Her shots are fever dreams, capturing the madness of forgotten places where the spirits of the past whisper secrets to those brave enough to listen.

It’s been quite a challenging journey, to say the least. Along the way, I encountered some unexpected and unsettling events, including finding a dead body that was six days old and narrowly escaping being shot at. It certainly hasn’t been a smooth road.

With each click of my camera, I plunge deeper into the abyss, revealing the beauty in urban decay, the poetry in dereliction. My work is a psychedelic journey through the graffiti-covered realms of forgotten factories, haunted asylums, and abandoned subways, fearlessly documenting the strange and savage beauty of our decaying cities. I don’t just photograph urbex; I live it, breathe it, and I show the world as we’ve never seen it before.

One of my fondest childhood memories was the time my family took a trip to New York City. We had a fantastic day exploring the bustling city, but what made it truly special was our visit to Tavern on the Green. The atmosphere was magical, with twinkling lights and lush gardens, and I can still remember the delicious meal we enjoyed there. It was a moment of pure joy and togetherness that has stayed with me over the years.