CEO
Composed
TEACHING ARTIST
Mitzi Valenzuela
TEACHING ARTIST ASSISTANT
Yahaira S. Guerrero
MENTORS
Cecilia Arana
Gabriela Salazar
Jo Lacangan
Justin McConnell
Maya Rosado
Rudy Torres
Everything we experience—our heritage, the city we live in, and the work we pursue—is carried with us and expressed in how we show up in the world. These artworks celebrate visibility, pride, and resistance. Through photography, our artists reflect on the personal and collective forces that shape their identities, asserting their right to be seen, heard, and remembered.
In CEO: Composed, artists claim space as professional storytellers, resisting marginalization by creating work that echoes their histories and builds resilient futures through their creative agency. This exhibition weaves together a narrative of cultural memory, self-definition, and the power of claiming one’s own story.
This exhibition is sponsored by Angel City Football Club & NYX Professional Makeup.
Photo printing for this exhibition sponsored by Epilogue Inc.
Ash Romero, AGE 18
Bed of Flowers
Death is a beautiful moment of life as it is the end of a cycle. Cempasúchil flowers are used to guide the dead on day of the day and are a symbol of life and death.
Giant Cempasúchil
ABOUT ME
Ash Romero is an L.A.-based artist from Puebla, Mexico. She moved to East L.A. from Mexico when she was seven years old. During her five years as a student at Las Fotos Project, she has expanded her world as an artist. Ash uses photography to explore her culture and identity to connect with herself on a deeper emotional level. She enjoys photographing environmental portraits but also likes spending time in the studio. Her biggest inspiration is her older sister, Maria, who has helped her find her inner true self. Her sister showed her how art doesn’t have to be just a hobby, but it can be a career.
Bella “Bellita” Gomez, AGE 17
Chapina de corazón
I created this collage to celebrate connection, heritage, and identity. The vibrant colors and layered images come together to honor my identity as a Guatemalan-American creative. I chose to feature my friend Janelle because she's half Guatemalan, and I wanted to highlight the strength, resilience, and vibrancy in our shared culture.
ABOUT ME
Bellita is a 17-year-old photographer born and raised in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Her work centers on empowering her community and advocating against ongoing gentrification through photo storytelling. She enjoys editorial photography and loves experimenting with makeup, fashion, and different alternative subcultures. Bellita also creates mixed-media work, blending her artistic interests into visually impactful stories. She aspires to dive deeper into the fashion realm while continuing to use her lens to uplift underrepresented communities and spark conversations that inspire change.
Isabella Reyes, AGE 18
Esperando te
Esperando Te is about a girl writing letters to her military partner. In between the letters and 4-minute calls Esperando Te is a reminder and show and tell of the beauty after a storm.
ABOUT ME
Isabella is 18 and currently a first-year student at Cal State LA inspiring to help those in her community in her career. She likes to capture in-the-moment photos of her community and culture. She's been in this program since she was 12 which is bittersweet since this is her last semester. She's excited to create more work in the future while pursuing her kinesiology major to work with kids.
IxChel Canché, AGE 18
Who I Want to Be
Into Boxes
From the moment they are born to their final breath, external forces try to shove women into boxes and break them with oppression. But how can powerful hurricanes be contained? How can heroines ready to take flight be seen as the stereotypical damsel in distress? The spirits of women are stronger than the negative opinions surrounding them. The courageous efforts of these feminine warriors will live in history books longer than any oppressive law against them.
Damsel in Distress??
ABOUT ME
IxChel Canché is an 18-year-old photographer from East Los Angeles. As she finishes up her last year of high school, she relies on photography to learn more about the young woman she is becoming. IxChel utilizes film and digital photography to reflect on past lessons and bring attention to topics that matter to her such as the MeToo and Chicano movements, climate change, and callings for peace. She is greatly inspired by photographers like Gerda Taro and Vivian Maier as well as authors like Sandra Cisneros and Laura Esquivel. Her mission is to uplift and preserve not only her own voice but also the voices of those around her. IxChel hopes that photography allows her to fall in love with life over and over again.
Jade Sanchez, AGE 17
For Generations
Monarch butterflies have migrated for centuries, yearning for opportunity and hope for the future. They’ve been scared to come out of their cocoons, afraid of violence and erasure but they will always be here in Los Angeles generation after generation.
ABOUT ME
Hi, my name is Jade Sanchez, I’m 17 years old and first-generation latinx. I was born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Highland Park. Some things that I’m interested in right now are hiking, sewing, and pastries. My photography mostly focuses on alternative subcultures and storytelling. This is my fourth semester in Las Fotos Project. This semester I’ve had the opportunity of photographing at the Bob Baker Theatre, attending Camp Flog Gnaws’ community day, and going on gigs for the first time. Something I’m hoping to explore is creating more mixed media photographs and dabbling in filmmaking.
Janelle Rivas, AGE 18
Not Ripe Enough
Pomegranates have always been a symbol of femininity to me. Their hidden seeds represent abundance, rebirth, and the quiet power that comes with growing into yourself. Yet, there is nothing more intimidating than the transition from girlhood to womanhood. As little girls, we want nothing more than to be women, imagining our futures and success. But the closer we get to it, the more we find ourselves reaching back, chasing the intangible feeling of being a little girl again.
ABOUT ME
Janelle Rivas is an 18-year old latina artist based in L.A. who hopes to pursue photography professionally in the future. She enjoys integrating fashion and color to help tie her work together. Janelle uses photography as a tool to further navigate connecting with her identity while implementing elements of her culture like location, herself, and friends/family members. She enjoys expressing her identity creatively and the process of telling a story from her perspective, using photography as a safe space for her to navigate certain complex emotions that might not be easy to put into words.
Jessica Angel, AGE 17
One Unforgettable Finale
One unforgettable finale captures the joy and power of performing. My project reflects how performers channel raw emotion and hard work into every moment onstage. By portraying two women proud of their craft, I aim to highlight the dedication and resilience required to stand before a crowd and deliver their best. My experience as a mariachi also shapes how I portray performers and their artistry, which plays a large role in the stories I am most interested in documenting.
ABOUT ME
Jessica Angel is a Chicana born and raised in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. She comes from a Mexican family who supports and understands her interests, playing a big role in the person she has become today. The mesmerizing culture that has surrounded her since birth has encouraged her to take on the challenge of photography. She loves to stay busy and is always ready to capture a moment through the lens of her camera whether it is funny or serious. She has grown to love taking quiet and loud photos, capturing the deep feelings of a subject. She has grown out of her shell, using her digital and Las Fotos Project camera to capture the most relevant feelings that she is going through in her high school, teenage years, and her everyday life in general. Jessica has fallen in love with capturing her everyday life with the sole click of a button, being able to remember and show her friends what she has been up to. She has been influenced by the essence of performances since performing as a mariachi is part of her life.
Jessica Murillo Lopez, AGE 17
In times when the voices of the oppressed are silenced, the expression of an artist always prevails. Regardless of culture or gender, we all deny erasure in our own individual way. The words of a writer never waver. The melodies of a musician never tremble. The stories of a photographer never fade. And above all, our memory, pride, and resistance to challenges remain a generational inheritance.
Hats Off
Showbusiness
ABOUT ME
Jessica Murillo Lopez is a young artist from Los Angeles who takes inspiration from her culture, passions, and small observations in her daily life. Raised as the oldest child in a busy household, she often approaches photography (and music) as an escape from a hectic academic life. Taking photos of things she loves allows for her to capture moments that are fleeting, revealing secret stories. Her spontaneous bouts of creativity allow her photography to be adaptive and evolving, open to multiple perspectives and personal narratives. Through her art, she aims to evoke passionate emotions that convey themes of justice, equality, and identity, promoting the idea of embracing one's true self.
Mujeres divinas
Leslie Calel, AGE 17
LUNA
A time where many no longer have the privilege to go outside, scared for what will happen to them for simply being. Take this as an opportunity to show your community hope. Be the light that shines brightest in the dark.
ABOUT ME
Leslie is a 17-year-old based in East L.A. Participating in various programs throughout Boyle Heights has allowed her to develop an interest in a variety of subjects, such as baking, environmental justice, politics, photography, and reading. Though she is an introvert, she has learned that speaking up and being confident is a significantly valuable trait, especially in environments where being a woman of color becomes a challenge. She grew up in a quiet household raised by female characters. It is because of their unwavering strength that she has been able to act as bravely as she does, speaking up for those who may find it difficult to do so. She finds herself drawn to works that highlight themes of cultural identity and family dynamics. Artists like Meiko Kawakami and Fernanda Liberti have inspired her to create her own work of which she can bring comfort and an understanding to others.
Lianna Zambrano, AGE 19
Sunflowers Shine in the Rain
There’s always something positive to come after the storm. Not all flowers fall just because of a little rain, for some it makes them stronger. I've faced a lot of challenges being a Mexican-American Woman and that pushes me to keep holding my head high and striving for what I want. Regardless of what I may come across, life continues on no matter what, so I choose to keep moving forward and make the best of my life.
Bloom
ABOUT ME
Lianna Zambrano is a 19-year-old Mexican-American artist who enjoys the gifts and responsibilities life has to offer. She grew up in East Los Angeles for most of her life. The art, culture, and dedication of being Mexican has always been around her. Regardless of things she has faced she pushes through because life always continues on. She is currently attending college to work in the medical field as an ultrasound/x-ray technician. She wants to keep the photographer in her around as long as she can. While juggling school, social life, and extracurriculars, Zambrano found peace in photography and love for being in the moment. Capturing raw emotion in her work shows a piece of who she is.
Piece of You
Sarah Hernandez, AGE 16
Aliens?
These are the people they are calling aliens. My parents are both immigrants, both from Mexico. They are hardworking and wonderful parents who sacrificed so much in their lives just to try and give us the best. I am proud to say that I would choose to be the daughter of an "alien" in every lifetime.
Glow
ABOUT ME
My name is Sarah Hernandez. I’m a 16-year-old girl who discovered a love for photography at a young age. I have a particular passion for capturing moments from my travels, the beauty around me, and the people I love—my family and friends. Looking back at my photos brings me joy, as I often find myself laughing or smiling while reminiscing. I use photography because photos will always remain what they are, holding memories and emotions. Creating new memories is important to me because I believe in living life to the fullest while also having fun adventures. I hope that my photos are able to connect to people, spark inspiration, and lastly, encourage people to view the world with an open mind to live a better, more fulfilled life.
Transformed
Xitlali Ray, AGE 18
Metamorphosis
This collage was made to show what it is like to live and grow up in Boyle Heights. As Xitlali grows up she sees more and more fear grow with her age and within her community, from her youth group being scared to have meetings in the church yard to hearing stories of friends’ family members missing due to ICE raids. She strives to create a sense of pride and show that immigrants make America and are the backbone of the country. She asks you to reflect about what you think makes someone American.
Northgate
ABOUT ME
Xitlali Ray is a 16-year-old Mexican American girl, who has lived in Boyle Heights her entire life. In her work she strives to make others feel seen. She’s done work about chronic illness, mental health and is currently working on her own project titled “Xitlali Ray” where she dives into what it means to be her and each name's meaning.
Zubi "Zubella" Sanchez Parra, AGE 16
Los Ángeles
This collage portrays the quiet, yet resilient nature that everyone, especially those in the Latino community, exhibits in their day-to-day lives. People in these seemingly meaningless roles get overlooked but they, like everyone else, live complicated lives. Although it is not as big as going to a protest or participating in a walk-out, showing up in their daily lives is still a form of pride and strength that should be acknowledged. It may seem small, but it still has an impact.
ABOUT ME
Zubi Sanchez is a Latina photographer born and raised in Los Angeles, specifically Lincoln Heights. She is a 16-year-old sophomore at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. She also has a little brother named Zeke and three pets.
Zubi first started doing photography as a means of self-expression and began working with a more professional camera in 2022. Her work is influenced by her culture, friends, and ongoing issues, whether that’s politics or her mental health. She has since worked on her skills and grown as an artist.
