Fabiola Lopez - Carrying Her With Me

About the Exhibition: Carrying Her With Me explores the profound impact of the mother-daughter relationship on identity. In this series, Fabiola dives into the complexities of these relationships across different households and communities, recognizing that this unique bond carries meaningful lessons, stories, and values. Her close relationship with her own mother has deeply shaped her identity, imparting countless life lessons.

Through this series, Fabiola seeks to understand how these complex relationships manifest in different families and how cultural backgrounds, family dynamics, and varying forms of mother-daughter connections—both blood-related and blended families—shape these bonds. Simultaneously, she explores her own identity as a young woman and daughter through self-portraiture. By engaging in conversations about the impact of mothers on their daughters, she reflects on the influence her own mother has had on her life in a vulnerable and explorative way.

As she engages in self-reflection and navigates these external and internal dialogues, Fabiola has come to realize that her relationship with her mother directly informs her interactions with others. Like many daughters, she strives for independence, working to separate her evolving beliefs from those of her mother. Yet she recognizes how much of her mother, both consciously and unconsciously, is reflected in her—the way she carries herself, relates to others, and even in her smiles.

Fabiola believes that whether intentional or not, daughters inherently carry aspects of their mothers. This realization fosters deeper self-awareness, allowing individuals to examine their identity, values, and life choices. She also acknowledges how generational trauma can unconsciously shape daughters’ lives. At the same time, daughters inherit profound and beautiful qualities from their mothers: their love, their courage, their resilience.

About the Artist: Fabiola Lopez is a Latina photographer from Los Angeles, CA, whose work is rooted in connection and authenticity. She uses photography to explore vulnerability—both her own and that of her subjects—creating space for meaningful human connection.

For Fabiola, photography is more than an art form; it’s a personal outlet and a way to engage with others' stories while reflecting on her own. It’s how she exists within her community, honoring important moments and making vulnerability a shared experience.

Fascinated by human connection, she approaches each project with the goal of capturing people in their most authentic state—the way they relate, carry themselves, and express emotion. Unlike the “fly on the wall” approach many photographers take, Fabiola believes the best portraits come from being fully present and engaged. To her, "taking up space" means entering every photo session with confidence, intention, and purpose. By approaching her subjects with empathy, understanding, and authenticity, she fosters a collaborative experience where photographer and subject create together.

As she continues to evolve as an artist and professional, Fabiola strives to form deeper connections and create work that is transformative for herself, her subjects, and her viewers.