Finding representation and inclusivity in the art world can be hard to come by. In a white cis-male-dominated space, finding community is important. Oftentimes, marginalized folks are left to create their own spaces, in which we can be visible and support each other. These spaces are ones that affirm our existence not just as artists, but as people. At the beginning of my journey as an artist, I looked at many artists for inspiration but found a lack of connection on a personal level to their stories. I didn’t realize the importance of representation until I saw that there were few who looked like me, making work about their lived experiences. I knew people like me existed, I just didn’t know where to find them.
With a quick online search, finding Latinx photographers isn’t exactly easy to come by. You’re met with a few short lists of photographers to follow, likely due to the push for representation within the last few years. In late 2020, writer and activist Elizabeth Ferrer published a book entitled Latinx Photography In The United States: A Visual History, which worked to inform readers that Latinx folks in photography have existed earlier and more prominently than many think. Through Ferrer’s research, she shows that Latinx photographers in the United States have worked to shine a light on not only their own experiences, but ones of many marginalized groups across the country.
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