Who is Graciela Iturbide?

Discover more about Graciela Iturbide, one of the most influential Latin American photographers of the past four decades. Delve into the subject of our current show Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines and her connection to the cultural and social landscapes she captures. 

Black and white photograph of a woman standing and looking upward

Who is Graciela Iturbide?

Discover more about Graciela Iturbide, one of the most influential Latin American photographers of the past four decades. Delve into the subject of our current show Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines and her connection to the cultural and social landscapes she captures. 

Born in 1942 in Mexico City to a conservative Catholic family, Graciela Iturbide's artistic journey began as a film student at the Centro de Estudios Cinematográficos at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. However, her path took a decisive turn while working as an assistant to acclaimed photographer Manuel Álvarez Bravo. Under Bravo's mentorship, Iturbide's passion for still photography grew, and so began a career marked by deep cultural exploration and visual poetry. 

Black and white portrait photograph of a woman with indigenous paintings on her face and a black veil over her head

A pretext to know the world

Iturbide describes photography as "a pretext to know the world, to know life." This philosophy comes through in her work, where each image is a journey into understanding and portraying the essence of her subjects. Her approach is informed by personal interaction and respect, particularly in her long-term projects documenting Indigenous communities in Mexico. One of her most renowned series, "Juchitán de las Mujeres," captures the empowered women of the Zapotec culture, overthrowing traditional gender roles and highlighting their societal influence. 

My photography is for me, above all. Of course, I am a political woman, I am a feminist.

- Graciela Iturbide
Black and white photograph of three women with black headscarves wrapped around them looking forlorn

Influences and inspirations

Iturbide's style and vision have been shaped by several iconic photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka and Tina Modotti. These influences, combined with her own experiences and political convictions, gives her work both personal insight and cultural commentary. As she states, “My photography is for me, above all. Of course, I am a political woman, I am a feminist. When I take a photograph, all of these things already live inside me.” 

Black and white photograph of a bespectacled man in a suit and bowtie stood with his arms crossed. He looks off into the distance

Global explorations and cultural documentation 

Throughout her career, Iturbide has travelled extensively, documenting a variety of cultures and communities. Her work with the Ethnographic Archive of the National Indigenous Institute of Mexico led her to photograph the Indigenous Seri community in the Sonora Desert, capturing their nomadic lifestyle with sensitivity and depth. 

This commitment by Iturbide to understand and represent diverse ways of life extends beyond Mexico and she has produced work in Germany, Spain, Ecuador, Japan, the United States, India, Madagascar, Argentina, Peru and Panama.

Photographs emerge from both exterior realities and our inner selves – from within and from without.

- Graciela Iturbide
Black and white photograph of four women, one of whom is holding a baby in her arms. They are stood in front of a wall mural of three men

The personal and the political 

Iturbide's photography is a reflection of her inner world and the external realities she encounters. This interplay between the personal and the political is a constant in her work, offering a perspective that invites us to engage deeply with the subjects she portrays. 

Black and white photograph of a cacti tree

A legacy of learning and discovery

Despite her decades-long career, Iturbide continues to find joy and surprise in photography. "Even after so many years as my medium of expression, photography never ceases to surprise me. It continues to give me a reason to learn about the world and myself."  

Graciela Iturbide’s contributions to photography extend beyond her images; they encompass a lifelong journey of exploration, cultural documentation and personal expression. Her photographs are more than visual records; they are narratives filled with dreams, desires and the profound human experience which continue to inspire and influence photographers today. 

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