When people hear I live in Puerto Rico, they often respond with stories of their cruise stop in San Juan or a brief vacation on the island’s northern coast. But few venture beyond those curated experiences, and even fewer understand the complexity of life here. Puerto Rico is not a postcard stereotype, nor is it an extension of another Latin American culture. As one local driver put it, “Hot sauce is for hipsters and gringos.” Our identities are as varied as our appearances. The archipelago itself reflects that same multiplicity, with its rainforests and dry forests, caves inscribed with indigenous petroglyphs, mountains, bustling urban centers, and not to mention its world-renowned beaches.
This exhibition doesn’t attempt to define Puerto Rico in its entirety; rather, it offers glimpses into the everyday moments and overlooked landscapes that lie beyond the familiar tourist trail. From weathered paint and spontaneous alleyways, these images and objects reveal the layered stories of place and people.
Let the unexpected reframe what you thought you knew.
Pictured: Like Wildfire, 2025
Paper, 5 x 7 in
