Louis Carlos Bernal: Overview
Louis Carlos Bernal, Dos Mujeres, Douglas, Arizona, 1978, Center for Creative Photography, the University of Arizona: Louis Carlos Bernal Archive. © Lisa Bernal Brethour and Katrina Ann Bernal.
The Center for Creative Photography (CCP) at the University of Arizona celebrates the legacy of Louis Carlos Bernal, a pioneering Chicano photographer and Tucson arts icon, in Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva, on view Sept. 14, 2024 – March 15, 2025.
The exhibition, the first major retrospective to highlight the career of Louis Carlos Bernal (1941–1993), is fully bilingual. The 120 photos and 29 archival objects were selected from the CCP’s collection by curator Elizabeth Ferrer, former chief curator at BRIC in Brooklyn.
"Bernal is a groundbreaking figure in the history of photography. He was the first Chicano to work with the camera as an artist, and the first to create a sustained body of work reflecting the values and spirituality of Mexican Americans in the Southwest. His work deserves to be more broadly recognized in the history of twentieth-century American photography," Ferrer said.
The artist, born in 1941 in Douglas, Arizona, began his career in the early 1970s, capturing the resilience and cultural richness of Mexican Americans in the barrios of Tucson and the American Southwest. His photographs, often portraying individuals and families in intimate settings, resonate with a profound connection to his subjects and their surroundings.
Retrospectiva includes barrios portraits, early experimental pieces, photographs from his trips to Mexico, previously unseen images from Cuba, and his documentation of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
“My images speak of the religious and family ties I have experienced as a Chicano,” Bernal stated. “I have concerned myself with the mysticism of the Southwest and the strength of the spiritual and cultural values of the barrio.”
In addition to his photography, Bernal made significant contributions to education. He founded the photography program at Pima Community College in 1972 and served as an instructor for 17 years from 1972 to 1989.
The Louis Carlos Bernal Collection at the CCP, comprising 1,200 prints, project records, and other materials from Bernal's life and career, was donated by the artist's daughters in 2014. In 2021, the CCP received a $255,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to develop this exhibition and its companion publication. Additional funding from Bank of America will support several programs held both at CCP and in the community that celebrate Bernal’s commitment to Chicanx representation.
Learn more about the exhibition, archive, and various community programs below.
Major support for the exhibition and its companion publication is provided by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Corporate sponsorship is by Bank of America.
Louis Carlos Bernal Online Gallery
Louis Carlos Bernal photographed everyday life in the barrio, capturing the essence of neighborhoods undergoing rapid transformation. His work not only preserved the religious and familial ties he experienced but also safeguarded the unique cultural heritage of these communities.
Browse the Online Gallery
Louis Carlos Bernal Archive
Archival collections can be accessed through the Laura Volkerding Study Center at CCP, which houses hundreds of archives documenting photographers' work, including that of Louis Carlos Bernal. Detailed descriptions of these archives are available in CCP's ArchivesSpace.
If you need assistance navigating our collections or wish to set up a research appointment, please submit your inquiry through our Research Assistance page.
Learn moreLouis Carlos Bernal Pop-Up Exhibitions and Community Events
The Center for Creative Photography (CCP) is hosting a series of events in conjunction with the exhibition Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva, which will be on display at the Center Galleries from September 14, 2024, to March 15, 2025.
In collaboration with a Community Advisory Committee, CCP has organized various activities from September to March. These activities include pop-up exhibitions, lectures, gatherings (sobremesas), and zine launches, all designed to complement the exhibition.
Bank of America is sponsoring numerous programs within this series.
Learn more