Do you ever see a stranger and wonder...
I’ve been asking that question since 2009 and have received more than 100,000 hand-written, true, and anonymous answers. Whether about love or loss, joy or fear, what they all have in common is an honest voice of the human experience. We’re living in a time where the differences between us are magnified. I believe that what starts as a simple act of listening can be a profoundly transformative experience. Exploring the lives of the people we share space with every day shows us how wonderfully human we all are. These stories engage strangers of all ages and backgrounds to reflect, rejoice, heal and connect through words.
Everyone has a Story
What started as a small experiment has grown into my life’s work, and I’m grateful it caught your eye. The Strangers Project is built to be explored — whether you’re here to read, to share, or simply to see what it’s all about.
If you’re curious about how it all began, you can learn more about the story behind the project. If you’d like to see it in action, you can plan a visit to the story wall in New York City. If you want to bring it to your own community, there’s a way to start that conversation. And if you believe in keeping this space open and free for everyone, your support makes that possible.
Wherever you choose to start, I’m glad you’re here. This space is for you.
Stay Connected From Anywhere
Step inside the project from wherever you are.
Each week, I’ll share a selection of real, handwritten stories from The Strangers Project, along with behind-the-scenes moments and reflections you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a way to pause, connect, and see the world through someone else’s eyes — delivered straight to your inbox, free.
Hey everyone! Brandon here with the schedule for the next few weeks, plus an update.
Regular hours are Thursday–Sunday, 2–6:30pm, with bonus hours whenever I can fit them in. Full calendar in my bio and at strangersproject.com/schedule.
‼️ Please always check the live schedule before you come. It’s just me running the space, so I can’t always avoid interruptions. ‼️
This weekend is a rare exception where I won’t be open (Aug 7–9). I’ll still be in Thursday, and regular hours resume the following week.
Last weekend of the month: a REALLY exciting collaboration pop-up I can’t announce yet. I can promise I’ll be collecting stories somewhere in NYC. Details soon!
📋 Other news:
I know it’s been quieter here on socials lately. Running the exhibit solo every week for the past 4 years has me stretched a little thin, and keeping the space at full capacity has always been my top priority. But I’ve also been building something BIG — the most significant upgrade for the project in the past decade.
This year I realized the project has scaled beyond my capacity as a solo artist. When the exhibit became semi-permanent, stories started coming in faster than I could process them — hundreds a week — and it matters to me that I read every single one. So for the past six months, with help from some amazing volunteers, I’ve been re-digitizing the entire 100,000+ story collection and building a fully custom database behind the scenes. That sprint is nearly done. When it’s done we will have:
* New ways to explore the full collection online — themes, collections, experiments. I’ll need beta testers soon, so drop a comment if you’re interested.
* More story refreshes at the exhibit more often. I’ve had to pause swapping stories while rebuilding — regular visitors probably noticed. Thanks for your patience.
* So more I’m not ready to share yet!
Thanks for bearing with me while I rebuild this beautiful thing we all made together. The future is looking bright.
Time for more stories. I know I’ve been a bit quiet on socials lately—I’ve been working on some big things for the project behind the scenes and took a (much needed) little social media break in the process. The exhibit is still open every week. Can’t wait to show you what I’ve been working on on.
Find the space:
WTC Oculus
South concourse, main floor
Thursday-Sunday 2-6:30pm
I think I want to keep the exhibit open a bit longer for the summer. The current schedule is Thursday - Sunday 2-6:30.
I’m not sure if I want to add an extra day or extend the weekend hours. If you have a preference, let me know!
I can’t believe I used to trim these one by one
Thinking of doing extended hours for the summer…
I love being hands-on and making whatever tools I need whenever I can. Handmade things have small imperfections that remind us a human put real time into making something exist… and they’re just more satisfying to use.
I needed a stamp for the envelopes I give out to visitors.
Here’s how I made it.
Step 1: Draw the stamp design
Step 2: Model a hollow, mirrored version of the text in 3D (we mirror it because once the mold is filled, the image flips when the silicone is removed)
Step 3: 3D print the mold
Step 4: Mix equal parts liquid silicone rubber
Step 5: Pour the mixture into the mold
Step 6: Let the silicone cure for about 4 hours
Step 7: Remove the solidified silicone from the mold
Step 8: Measure the new stamp and model a simple handle
Step 9: 3D print the handle
Step 10: Affix the silicone stamp to the handle
Done! Now we have a simple little Strangers Project stamp, made by hand.
From the walls of the Strangers Project. This space is for you.
