Reynaldo Rivera
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (April 2022) |
Reynaldo Rivera | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964 |
| Known for | Photography, notably of Latinx culture |
Reynaldo Rivera (born 1964) is a photographer known for capturing historic queer, transgender, and predominantly Latinx scenes, such as clubs and house parties in late 20th-century Los Angeles. He photographed clubs including La Plaza, the Silverlake Lounge, Mugy’s, and Little Joy.[1] Rivera’s black and white photographs are known for their intimate documentation and focus on the everyday life and private moments of Latinx women, artists, and drag performers at the time.[2] Rivera considers this a type of activism against the forms cultural erasure that continuously inflicts these communities. Citing gentrification, violence, and a lack of public record-keeping as reasons that have led to their marginalization and erasure.[3] In this way, Rivera is known for bringing visibility to queer, Latinx-Angeleno history.[3]
Early life and career[edit]
Reynaldo Rivera was born in 1964 in Mexicali,[4] though he ended up moving between many places in the United States and Mexico growing up.[4] He now resides permanently in East Los Angeles, the site of the queer history he documents through his photos.[4]
Rivera's mother and father, both born in Mexico, met in Stockton. After his parents separated, Rivera oscillated between living with his mother and his father.[4] He navigated his childhood through various places, including Stockton, Pasadena, Mexicali, and Santa Ana, with his sister, Herminia.[5] Although most of Rivera's time was spent with his mother in Glendale, there were times when his father would take Rivera to reside with him.[2] Starting at the age of five, Rivera lived with his abusive grandmother, for four consecutive years after being kidnapped by his father.[2] Thereafter, Rivera's father would often bring him from Glendale to the San Jaoquin Valley, where Rivera was exposed to his father's illegal activities.[2] Rivera also had some run-ins with the law, such as when he was faced with charges in the sixth grade for selling drugs.[2]
Rivera cites photography as a way for him to find stability.[2] His first camera was a Pentax K1000.[2] He began his career by photographing hotel cleaners.[6] Rivera credits the employee at the film development spot he used for explaining the mechanics of his camera to him after his initial pictures were coming out blank.[5] During his early pursuit of photography, Rivera did not have enough money to afford all the film he needed, which he credits with necessitating the development of his editing skills.[5] His first piece was a 1983 selection aimed at bringing life to the site in Mexico City where his step-grandfather was murdered.[2]
Rivera’s first professional gig when he entered his 20s was photographing live punk and rock music, such as that performed by Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Sonic Youth.[6] He then transitioned to photographing drag bars, house parties, and queer clubs, especially in East Los Angeles, including La Plaza during the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
Works, exhibitions, projects, collections[edit]
Notable works / selected works[edit]
- Tatiana Volty, 1986, Silverlake Lounge[7]
- Anna LaCazio and Judy Pokonosky, 1989, Echo Park[8]
- Elyse Regehr and Javier Orosco, 1989, Downtown LA
- Miss Alex, 1992, Echo Park
- Olga, 1992, La Plaza
- Wes Cuttler, 1992, Echo Park[9]
- Angela, 1993, La Plaza
- Gaby, Reynaldo and Angela, 1993, La Plaza
- Laura, La Plaza, 1993[10]
- Melissa and Gaby, 1993, La Plaza
- Montenegro, 1995, Silverlake Lounge
- Patron, 1995, Silverlake Lounge
- Performer, 1995, Silverlake Lounge
- Tina, 1995, Mugy’s
- Vanessa, 1995, Silverlake Lounge[11]
- Richard Villegas Jr., friend, and Enrique, 1996
- Girls, 1997, El Conquistador[12]
- La Plaza, 1997, La Plaza
Exhibitions, projects and collections[edit]
- Kiss Me Deadly, Reena Spaulings Fine Art, 2021, New York
- Made in LA 2020: A Version, Hammer Museum / The Huntington Library, 2021, Los Angeles
- Comedy of Errors, The Gallery At, 2020, Hollywood
- Avengers - Someone Left a Cake Out in the Rain, Gaga & Reena Spaulings Fine Art, 2019, Los Angeles
References[edit]
- ^ Wolf, Kate (2020-12-10). "The Vanishing Queer Underground of Los Angeles". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The Glamorous World of LA's Vanished Queer Underground". Aperture. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ a b "'We are not the footnote': In photos, Reynaldo Rivera evokes L.A.'s queer Latino bohemia". Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ a b c d "Reynaldo Rivera | Hammer Museum". hammer.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ a b c SSENSE (2021-04-12). "Reynaldo Rivera Is His Own Leading Lady". ssense. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ a b c Kraus, Chris (2020-12-15). "Reynaldo Rivera's Photographs of a Los Angeles That No Longer Exists". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ "Reynaldo Rivera – Digital (NFTs) artworks by Reynaldo Rivera – Digital Basel". Digital Original. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Anna LaCazio and Judy Pokonosky, Echo Park". www.moca.org. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Reynaldo Rivera – Digital (NFTs) artworks by Reynaldo Rivera – Digital Basel". Digital Original. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Reynaldo Rivera – Digital (NFTs) artworks by Reynaldo Rivera – Digital Basel". Digital Original. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Reynaldo Rivera – Digital (NFTs) artworks by Reynaldo Rivera – Digital Basel". Digital Original. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Reynaldo Rivera – Digital (NFTs) artworks by Reynaldo Rivera – Digital Basel". Digital Original. Retrieved 2024-04-05.