A Year After Portraits of Us: Remembering a Community Photography Project in San Antonio
In March 2025, Portraits of Us: A Photo Story of Our Community opened at the Progreso Community Gallery in San Antonio, presenting a year-long photography project documenting the people, creativity, and everyday life that shape the city. Created in collaboration with photographer Sylvia Mizielińska and supported by the Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio, the exhibition featured intimate portraits, documentary photography, and recorded conversations with four individuals whose work contributes to San Antonio’s cultural landscape. One year later, I’m reflecting on the experience, the community response, and the stories that made the project unforgettable.
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of Portraits of Us: A Photo Story of Our Community — a project that remains one of the most meaningful bodies of work I’ve created as a photographer and storyteller. 
The exhibition opened on March 15, 2025 at the Progreso Community Gallery in partnership with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. It was presented as part of an Individual Artist Grant from the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture. Originally scheduled for one week, the response from the community was so strong that the exhibition was extended for a full month.
The project was created in collaboration with my friend and fellow photographer Sylvia Mizielińska. Over the course of a year we photographed throughout San Antonio — attending festivals, Fiesta celebrations, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, neighborhood gatherings, and capturing everyday street photography that reflects the rhythm and character of the city. Many of those images were displayed together in the exhibition as a broader portrait of the community.
At the heart of Portraits of Us were four individuals whose work contributes to the cultural life of San Antonio. Sylvia and I spent a full day with each of them documenting their routines, creative process, and stories, ending each session with a formal portrait photographed on a vintage Yashica Mat-124G. We also recorded podcast conversations so audiences could hear their stories in their own words.
My deepest thanks go to the four participants who shared their time and lives with us:
James Borrego – filmmaker, musician, and arts educator who serves as Radio, Television & Film Coordinator.
Laura Marie – singer, songwriter, and author whose voice has long been part of San Antonio’s arts community.
Agosto Cuellar – fashion designer, artist, and entrepreneur.
Gabriella Rodriguez – entrepreneur and owner of Seasonal farm salads.
I’m grateful to the Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio for supporting the project through the Individual Artist Grant program, and to the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for hosting the exhibition and their continued support.
My thanks as well to Sylvia Mizielińska for her collaboration and friendship, and to the many friends and family members who helped make the opening reception such a memorable community celebration and Carlos Correa & Terri Alonzo for providing their delicious catering on opening night. 