Digital Promotoras
Change Makers
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.
Digital Promotoras: Signs of Life examines the signs, symbols, and architecture of everyday environments, revealing how place shapes identity. This exhibition weaves together a narrative of cultural memory, self-definition, and the power of claiming one’s own story.
TEACHING ARTISTS: Juli Perez and Rebeca Castillo
TEACHING ARTIST ASSISTANT: Yahaira S. Guerrero
MENTORS: Ashley Paez, Carolyn Cardoza, Cecilia Arana, Enzo Perez Alonso, Juliana Hernandez, Justin McConnell, Lea Viera, Leah Hubbard, Marissa Leshnov, Olivia Ruiz, Riley Sotomayor, Stephanie Irineo, and Tizoc Zamora.
This exhibition and youth photography curriculum are made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
This exhibition is sponsored by Angel City Football Club & NYX Professional Makeup.
Photos printed at Mural Colors @muralcolors.
Arabella Hernandez, AGE 16
Arabella Hernandez is a 16-year-old first-gen latina photographer from Los Angeles who finds inspiration in the everyday moments which most people walk right past. She actively captures the small details that tell honest and deep stories about life living in LA. Arabella sees photography as a way to slow down and really look at the world, finding beauty in places that might seem ordinary at first. She enjoys wandering through streets, looking to catch something real, unexpected, or just simply human. Through her work, she hopes others will start noticing the little things, too. In the future Arabella would like to explore working in fashion photography as a way to broaden her horizons artistically and creatively.
Omar
These photos are about my immigrant father and his struggles and successes. He has an inspiring story as a political refugee moving from one of the most dangerous nations in the world to one of the most dangerous cities in America. Success would be hard, but instead of dwelling on that after leaving juvenile hall, he became a Marine at sixteen, attended USC, then eventually started a business. I want viewers inspired and proud, while understanding my dad’s mentality that you have control of your own situation.
Ariana Soria, AGE 19
Ariana Soria, a 19-year-old East LA-based artist whose mediums are photography, painting, and drawing, enjoys capturing her environment and her culture. Her love for art, specifically photography, allows for her to highlight the community figures that have inspired her throughout her life. As an LA native with Mexican roots, her mission is to create art that feels familiar yet refreshing and inspiring others by showcasing her values through her collaborations. Her love for community is deeply rooted in her upbringing in Boyle Heights. Family, culture and intimacy inspire her artwork, allowing for her to use her personal experiences to connect with the viewer.
Camino de Los Angeles
As a Chicana, street vendors are huge motivators for me as they represent dedication, hard work, and the latino hustle. I decided to photograph my community’s Paletero because he has brought the community together through his truck's melody, enticing people out to the streets that are often feared. His presence brings temporary comfort and tranquility. This project was specially curated with love and admiration towards the street vendors, aiming to highlight them as a backbone of Los Angeles.
Aurora Noyola, AGE 15
My work is rooted in honesty, emotion, and reaction. There’s a phrase that really represents who I am as an artist:“I might be a weirdo, but I’m real though.” Authenticity matters more to me than fitting in.
Growing up, I often felt like the odd one out in my family. I was always the person trying new things, exploring different interests outside of what the people around me usually cared about. A lot of the things I was drawn to creatively weren’t things others around me had interest in. Being different taught me how to be independent in my creativity and confident in expressing myself.
I believe art should make people feel something. Whether the reaction is positive or negative, it still means the work connected with someone enough to make them respond. Feedback, criticism, and support all help me grow and improve as an artist. As long as people are thinking, and reacting, then the art is doing its job. My goal is not to please everyone, but to create something honest that people can connect to in their own way.
Alberto Marquetti, 96
My great-grandfather emigrated from Cuba carrying hope, resilience, and the courage to begin again in a completely new place. Leaving behind family, culture, and familiarity, he worked hard to create opportunities for future generations while holding onto his traditions and values. He had a deep love for tiling and took pride in building and shaping his own home into what it is today through years of hard work and dedication. His strength, craftsmanship, and determination created a lasting legacy that continues to inspire my family every day.
Camila Tarango Jimenez - madeofstardust1982, AGE 18
Camila Tarango Jimenez is a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles. She is a senior at Eagle Rock High School and will be attending Sarah Lawrence College in the fall. She has been doing art since she was 3 years old and recently delved into photography. In the summer of 2025, she attended California Summer School of the Arts (CSSSA) concentrating in photography where she was designated a California Arts Scholar and received a Governor’s Medallion, the highest honor for a student artist in California. Camila is continuously inspired by her culture, femininity, political and religious imagery. Camila's work explores inner workings of student leadership, and their continuous commitment to making change.
Untitled
This body of work explores changemakers in Los Angeles. Her series follows JC Hizon, a student leader during May Day as she organized hundreds of students to walk out of school in solidarity with Teachers and SEIU workers in the looming days of their potential strike. JC is also a student at Eagle High school and was raised in Los Angeles. She embodies the spirit of youth activism that has shaped our city. She later received an award from UTLA and SEIU for her contribution to the walkout.
Cyann Mariah Henry, AGE 17
I am an African American girl, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and now I live in Gardena, California. I am 17 years old and in the 11th grade at Ramon Cortines Visual and Performing Arts High School. What I love about photography is that you can capture a moment and keep it forever. I was born to do art, not because I chose it, but because my imagination of colors refuses to stay inside my head. It is a fantastic relief to take a photo, like opening a window in a room filled with smoke. To me, a blank wall isn't a void; it's an invitation for a design. Finally, an ombre storm that has been swirling behind my eyes finally finds a home in the real world.
Memory Lane!
During the lockdown, I was worried about not being able to share moments with my family again. My village inspires me to keep going, especially when I feel like giving up. When the world started opening up, I wanted to capture moments with my family forever. The pandemic taught me that my village may not always be beside me, but I have the strength to pick myself up again and have my family in my heart.
Destiny Trejo, AGE 19
Destiny Trejo is a Los Angeles-based photographer whose work leans into mood, movement, and the feeling of being in a moment rather than just observing it. She is drawn to the in-between subtle gestures, quiet connections, and the energy that communities share when they fully express themselves. By using natural light and a cinematic approach, her images often center on community and closeness, with an emphasis on presence over perfection. Through these approaches, photography is her form of visual storytelling, capturing moments that evoke reflection and emotional depth. She is currently studying psychology at the University of Southern California. Her work has been featured in exhibitions with organizations such as Las Fotos Project and the USC Roski School of Art and Design.
Prospering Seeds
My project is capturing how a mother is showing up for her daughter in the ways she wished her own mother had done for her. Many factors explain why parents show up for milestones differently, whether it’s old-school norms, traditional beliefs, or circumstances that limit their ability to “show up.” Taking these factors into account has altered that perspective and allowed for clarity. Mothers showing up and loving from a distance allows for their seeds to continue prospering.
Emma Espinoza, AGE 19
My name is Emma Espinoza and I'm a 14-year-old Mexican American photographer born and raised in South Pasadena, CA. My journey with photography started when I began taking classes with Las Fotos Project two years ago. I was quite a shy person, but while being in Las fotos project I have found a place to fit in and get out of my comfort zone and develop new social skills. I love to take photos of my culture and identity. My work is driven by my passion for photography and my culture and connecting with new people. I hope when people see my photos they are inspired to also think about taking photos and looking at things in a new light.
The Overworker
This project is about my father Eric Espinoza who has been a locomotive engineer for BNSF Railway for over 20 years. Before him, my grandfather was also a locomotive engineer for the same company for 40 years. In his time working as an engineer, my father has made me have the best childhood possible. While not many people pay much attention to locomotive engineers, he is why packages get delivered and get to where they need to go.
Emma Ortiz, AGE 15
My name is Emma Ortiz and I am 15 years old. I was born and raised in Altadena and Pasadena but raised by a family with Salvadoran roots which has impacted my perspective in my everyday life, shown in the themes and settings of my work. I photograph things I love, like my city and loved ones. I show that love by letting my community view their city from a new perspective to highlight the things that are special and have details that they might pass by and overlook. I also like to highlight people to show them how amazing they are from a perspective they don’t see themselves. I want people to be able to connect with my art and feel inspired to make their own art in their own special way.
My Grandpa, the Ex-Revolutionary
I decided to photograph my grandpa, Mauricio Avelar, because I wanted to get to know him better. I’ve heard some of his stories about his past days as an ex-revolutionary from my mom, but after interviewing him for this project, I began to understand him and the struggles that not only he had to go through, but his whole country of El Salvador. I got to understand more of who he is as a whole person rather than just my grandpa.
Isa Hernández, AGE 16
Isa Hernández is a 16-old Nicaraguan and Salvadorian American. Through Las Fotos Project she discovered that art is truly in everything you see. Being Latina has always been a source of pride for her, especially since starting high school where most of her classmates exist outside of her culture. Latin representation has been more important than ever. She goes to an all-girls school in La Cañada called Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, where she fell in love with ceramics. She mostly takes pictures of her main art medium, ceramics. She loves making food, cooking with her mom, and traveling. One day she hopes to move out of the US, to Europe, and follow in her mom’s footsteps becoming a chef.
Little Nora
My mom immigrated from Nicaragua at age five, a journey that took four years to complete. Arriving in Los Angeles, she learned a new language and adapted to a new home. She found comfort in the kitchen beside her mother, recreating traditional Nicaraguan dishes, and that passion grew into a career. After having twins, she attended Le Cordon Bleu at night, inspired to recreate those memories with her daughters while serving her community through food and care.
Jacqueline Hernandez, AGE 18
My name is Jacqueline Hernandez. I am 18 years old and go to James A. Garfield Senior High School in East Los Angeles. I am an aspiring computer engineer and enjoy artistic hobbies such as crafting, drawing, listening to music and taking photos. I like photography because of the creative freedom you get when taking photos. Not only that, you also get to preserve cherished memories, which is something that I love capturing. To me, art is interesting because of how many emotions it can capture in a single stroke. It can connect people in personal ways by capturing the spirit of an era.
Infrra
My changemaker is Indy Frausto Ramirez, who plays varsity volleyball at Roosevelt High School. Indy inspires me because of how determined he is. Even when his confidence is extremely low, he never gives up and keeps trying to do his best when playing. He is from East LA, and his volleyball games always bring together communities—families and businesses. When watching games, young kids are always looking up to players as role models, creating a wave of future generations.
Jessica Murillo Lopez, AGE 18
Jessica Murillo Lopez is an 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 the things she loves allows her to capture moments that are fleeting. When paired with spontaneous bouts of creativity, her photography evolves and her concepts are open to different personal interpretations. Through her art, she aims to evoke passionate emotions and convey themes of community, equality, and identity, which ultimately encourage the idea of embracing one's true self.
The Stories We Share
The focus of this project is my close friend Anabella. An aspiring actor, she has been in a theatre company since 8th grade and maintains a passion for performing. Alice by Heart, the current musical production at our high school (photographed here), has been directed and majorly choreographed by Anabella. She, along with the high school students of the Eagle Rock High School theatre company, devotes countless hours towards producing a fascinating performance that challenges the norm and subverts expectations of youth, through compelling storytelling.
Kathie Garcia, AGE 17
Kathie, 17 years old, is a Mexican-Salvadorian American born and raised between the diverse streets of Koreatown and East Hollywood. Growing up surrounded by contrasting cultures, street life, and creative expression shaped both her identity and artistic perspective as she strived for academic excellence in honor of the sacrifices her parents made for her future. She found inspiration in the raw energy of punk rock, underground art, skate culture, and the stories carried through urban environments. Deeply influenced by her father, Kathie aims to explore resilience, rebellion, and self-expression within overlooked spaces and communities by her lens. Through rough textures, movement, and candid imagery, her photographs reflect the beauty and emotion found in environments often dismissed or misunderstood.
LA Taught Me Style, He Taught Me Expression
As we grow older, our surroundings and looking up to those we admire shapes our identities. My father wasn’t always the most talkative person, but I always understood what he meant because he expressed himself through ink and paper. He taught me that art is just one way to express ourselves, but the beauty itself lies in how we gather the small things we enjoy and put them together. I realize this each time exploring this city and all the gritty, comforting details it offers.
Meredith Flores, AGE 17
Meredith Flores is a proud chicana from East Los Angeles who values community and identity. She attempts to capture this in her work by documenting people who are actively making the community a better place. To achieve this, she focuses on candid photography, with her photographs portraying people in their authentic routines. She takes inspiration from everyday life, memories, emotions, different perspectives and combines it with the unbounded potential of creativity. She views art as a tool that can raise awareness, strengthen connections, and open a door for self expression. Las Fotos Project has been a part of her life for five different semesters, each one guiding her towards a deeper level of understanding of her environment as times change.
Hard-Working Dad
The United States has a long history of anti-immigrant sentiment, but we disregard the fact that these are the people who built the communities we call our homes. These are the people who sacrifice their lives, trying to survive and provide for their families while navigating an environment full of prejudice and discrimination. These are the changemakers who have shaped and continue to shape Los Angeles.
Miranda Aquino, AGE 19
Miranda Aquino is a first-generation emerging artist based in Mid-City, Los Angeles. At the age of three, she was introduced to performing arts and has since expanded her practice into other creative mediums. At the age of nineteen, Miranda is determined to continue her artistic impact while integrating a newfound drive for social advocacy, all while pursuing higher education. Miranda is heavily inspired by the Los Angeles neighborhoods in which she was raised. A majority of her imaginative and student work acknowledges the authenticity of Angelenos and their everyday lives. Through earning her degree and the ambition that has grown from a young age, Miranda hopes to be a voice amongst peers for her Angeleno neighbors, creative colleagues, and determined youth.
3250 W Olympic Blvd, unit 315, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Yooni Table is a family-run Korean restaurant located in the Koreatown Galleria food court. From their well-known Gondre Rice to their delicious steamed dumplings, Yooni Table caters Korean cuisine for everyone. Having grown up near their establishment and recently visiting for the first time a few years ago, Yooni Table encouraged me to explore new cultures that comprise parts of Los Angeles’community. Yooni Table has become a place for my friends and family to enjoy newfound comfort food.
Vida Gavica, AGE 15
My name is Vida Gavica. I'm 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. I'm from Los Angeles, and I live in a small neighborhood called El Sereno. I'm really inspired by my family and community, which is why it is my main focus in photography, to capture the big and little things that happen around me. Something I value is Land Back learning for all youth. Along with photography, I love to dance and choreograph quinces. I enjoy making art so I can hopefully inspire people to be more outgoing and not be afraid to show off their talents.
mi Vida indígena
My school, Anawakalmekak, focuses on Land Back Learning for K-12 students. Science teacher Ary Amaya is one of the main land stewards for my school’s land, Chief Ya’anna Village. They use the land to hold ceremonies, community events, and programs for the students. Ary offers opportunities for students to participate in land stewardship programs and indigenous practices. I chose this subject because it’s important to me for everyone to acknowledge the importance of decolonization.
Xitali Ray, AGE 17
Xitlali Ray, is 17 years old, born and raised in Boyle Heights. She loves to capture hidden and bold messages in her artwork. Growing up in Boyle Heights, she noticed that small businesses have constantly been an important aspect of her culture, from panaderias and lavanderias to third spaces like cafes. Xitlali finds her voice as an artist to be helpful as a form of self expression and opinions and also uses her platform as a photographer to highlight others’ stories within her neighborhood.
Mi casa es para ti
Café Niña isn't just another cafe. Found within the fold of Boyle Heights and East LA, Café Niña honors the owner (Janet’s) late grandma. She aims to share a piece of her family tradition and create more space for community by giving back, filling Boyle Heights with her family's culture as well as donating goods during holiday seasons. Café Niña is a place where all are welcomed and everywhere the cafe goes change can be seen.
