Ed Drew grew up in Brooklyn, New York City and joined the military a month after his completion of high school. He spent the next 6 years in the active duty Air Force, from 1999 to 2005, as a jet engine mechanic. His tour of duty eventually assigned him to Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, Japan until the end of his enlistment. It was while in Japan he discovered his passion for art and an artistic aesthetic derived from the Japanese culture.
After leaving Japan and active duty, he relocated to Germany where he lived for 3 years. He travelled across much of Western Europe and parts of Eastern Europe, further developing his artistic style. In the summer of 2008 Ed finally returned to America, after a 7-year absence, and, shortly thereafter, enlisted in the Air National Guard.
He served in the California Air National Guard as an Aerial Gunner for 6 years, a defensive heavy weapons and tactics specialist, on Combat Search and Rescue special operations helicopters. This highly-skilled branch of the military works in more of a specialized capacity than conventional military forces. He deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2013, where he created his first major body of work, a series of tintype portraits, some of which are currently part of the Smithsonian's, Museum of American History permanent collection.
While in the Air National Guard Ed Drew attended San Francisco Art Institute, receiving a BFA in Sculpture with a minor in Photography. He studied under photographers Linda Connor, Lonnie Graham and Henry Wessel, Jr.
His work centers on conceptual ideas of humanity, through historical references, with an emphasis on a wide range of photographic processes, and compositional dialogue.
