Tesoros: Treasures of Mexican Photography is a new gallery at The Wittliff that highlights treasures from our extensive collection of Mexican photography. The inaugural exhibition was curated by two student interns, Deandra Lee and Blanca Luna Nuñez, working alongside Carla Ellard, photo-archivist. Deandra, BFA in Photography ‘24, interned at The Wittliff for course credit with Photography Professor Jason Reed. Blanca, who is on track to graduate in December 2025 with a BFA degree with a K-12 Teaching Certificate, interned at The Wittliff as part of Dr. Adetty Perez De Miles’s Art Education in the Community class.
Together, they selected 18 images by some of Mexico’s leading fine-art and documentary photographers. Photographs by Manuel Álvarez Bravo, considered the father of Mexican photography, as well as his mentor, Hugo Brehme, are on view.
It was decided early on to prominently feature one of Graciela Iturbide’s iconic photographs, Our Lady of the Iguanas, and reproduce it from floor to ceiling on one wall. Nearby is the contact sheet of nine images that Iturbide took of the woman in the market selling iguanas. This image is also represented on the bronze bust of Graciela Iturbide by Philadelphia-based artist, Clete Shield, that has been placed in the center of the room. The photograph titled Duelo/Mourning by Iturbide was the first image selected for the exhibit by Deandra Lee. Deandra shared that while researching Iturbide’s life and our collection of images, she learned, “how to think about the relationship between the artist and their work and what holds a soul in their heart.”
The rich holdings of documentary photography are one of the strengths of The Wittliff’s Mexican collection. Photographs that reveal the human condition, including political and social truths, make up the bulk of the exhibition with works by Alicia Ahumada Salaíz, Lázaro Blanco, Hector Garcia, Marco Antonio Cruz, Mariana Yampolsky, Eniac Martínez Ulloa, Yolanda Andrade, Antonio Turok, Elsa Castro Medina, and Rodrigo Moya. Photographs by contemporary artists, Alejandro Cartagena, Citlali Fabian, Alinka Echeverreía, and Mayra Martell highlight newer acquisitions.
Deandra and Blanca shared positive energy and eagerness while working on the exhibition. After weeks of researching the collection, the heart of the project came together when we met for final image selection and arrangement.
Due to timing, it was easier to bring all of the (mostly) framed photographs into the gallery and physically arrange them. We discussed which images looked good together through sequencing and arrangement. There were tough decisions that were made, since we wanted to include as many artists as possible and had limited wall space.
Both were asked to write about their internship. Blanca shared that “this experience provided me with insights into the curation process for a museum, including the decision-making, the intricate process, and the depth of knowledge required to curate an exhibition, particularly in collaboration with Texas State students. Collaborating on Tesoros fueled my passion for delving deeper into Mexican culture, its people, and the stories they embody. Being a Latina born in Mexico and raised in the United States, I have had the opportunity to navigate the nuances between these two cultures. Throughout my internship, I familiarized myself with artists such as Rodrigo Moya, Mariana Yampolsky, Lazaro Blanco, and Marco Antonio Cruz.”