Before We Grew Upis a deeply personal photographic project by Anthony Nusca, serving as both his debut photobook and solo exhibition. It acts as a visual memoir and tribute to the people and places that shaped his early years. The work explores themes of coming of age, nostalgia, and emotional inheritance by capturing quiet, fleeting moments that often define us. Anthony aimed to process his own experiences while making these moments emotionally accessible to others, turning personal nostalgia into shared reflection. Many viewers found the images evoked memories of their own lives, from childhood summers to quiet hangouts and the bittersweet blur of growing up.

The photobook debuted alongside a three-day solo gallery show in Toronto in early 2023, followed by a solo exhibition in Gothenburg, Sweden later that summer. Organized loosely by age, the book moves from childhood to young adulthood with graduation scenes as emotional anchors. The gallery show mirrored this flow, inviting visitors to experience the timeline and narrative arc.

To deepen connection, Anthony embedded voice recordings accessible via QR codes throughout the exhibition. These audio pieces provide personal context to key images, inviting interactive engagement. Anthony led every facet of the project, markingthe start of his long-form storytelling practice.