Alejandro Delgado

Recent grad and Wallis Annenberg Legacy Endowed Scholarship recipient Alejandro Delgado (BFA 23 Photography and Imaging) uses photography to preserve his family’s cultural legacy.

I am a first-generation Mexican American photographer and am proud of my roots. My parents, who are immigrants from Mexico, sacrificed their lives for me and my siblings to live the American dream. From my dad coming to watch me play sports in his dirty construction clothes after a 12-hour day, to my mom taking care of four growing boys, my parents instilled in me hard work, discipline, love and to be respectful to all. I carry this with me in my personal and professional work. Going back to school as an almost 30-year-old wasn’t the easiest decision, but it’s been life changing. Now it’s time to put my knowledge, experience and techniques to use to make a difference for good in this world.

I can’t be more grateful and happy to be the first person in my family to graduate with a bachelor's degree. Before receiving the Wallis Annenberg Legacy Endowed Scholarship for Photography, I was stressed about how I was going to get through school financially. With scholarship support, I was able to finish school and complete a personal project I’ve been working on since 2019 about my culture. 

Documenting my culture in the United States has taught me so much about community, storytelling, and uplifting a culture that is trying to be erased in Los Angeles. With the help of ArtCenter, I’ve discovered that I can tell the story of my culture through action shots, portraits, details, landscapes and, recently, video. I would love to continue capturing other cultures and communities that are hidden in this huge melting pot. Telling those stories through a lens is a dream that I plan to make reality by casting a light on the beautiful people and communities that otherwise would not have it.

Being open minded and a sponge is important to the style of photography I enjoy shooting. Naturally lit or a full production, telling an accurate story with a camera is important. Trying to be a part of a culture rather than exploiting it is important to me and that’s where research comes in. Respecting people, being kind, being genuine, and opening your heart is more important than most technical approaches.