Louis Carlos Bernal virtual information session

The Center for Creative Photography (CCP) hosted a virtual information session on March 28, 2024, featuring writer, curator, and art historian Elizabeth Ferrer, who discussed the life and work of photographer Louis Carlos Bernal (1941-1993), whose archive is held at CCP and is the subject of an upcoming exhibition, "Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva," on view September 14, 2024, through January 25, 2025. This session introduced artist Louis Carlos Bernal to educators so they could consider how they might incorporate the exhibition's content into their curricula.

Best known for his intimate portrayals of barrio communities of the Southwest United States, Louis Carlos Bernal made photographs in the late 1970s and 1980s that draw upon the resonance of Catholicism, Indigenous beliefs, and popular practices tied to the land. For Bernal, photography was a potent tool in affirming the value of individuals and communities who lacked visibility and agency. Working in both black and white and in color, he photographed the interiors of homes and their inhabitants, often presenting his subjects surrounded by the objects they lived with. Bernal viewed these spaces as rich with personal, cultural, and spiritual meaning, and his unforgettable photographs express a vision of la vida cotidiana—everyday life—as a state of grace.

Elizabeth Ferrer is a writer, curator, and arts activist. Formerly served as vice president of Contemporary Art at BRIC in Brooklyn, Ferrer has extensive experience as a lecturer and has contributed to numerous publications focusing on Latinx art and photography. Her notable works include "A Shadow Born of Earth," "Lola Álvarez Bravo," and her most recent publication "Latinx Photography in the United States: A Visual History." Ferrer is the guest curator of "Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva," as well as the author of the companion volume, "Louis Carlos Bernal: Monografía," copublished by Aperture and the Center for Creative Photography, scheduled for release in June 2024.