La Virgen by Xavier Tavera
Framed Photograph Inkjet Print, 2024
 
Xavier Tavera has had a passion for portraiture for most of his life as a way to engage with people and their stories. Tavera’s work oscillates between documentary and the imagined with the sole purpose of telling a story. After moving from Mexico City to the United States, Tavera has devoted himself to telling the stories of the Latin American diaspora, often recontextualizing to provide visibility and fair representation. Tavera has shown his work extensively in the Twin Cities, nationally and internationally, including Germany, Scotland, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, and China. His work is part of the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Plains Art Museum, the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Minnesota History Center, the Ramsey County Historical Society, the Weisman Art Museum, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. He is a recipient of the McKnight fellowship, Jerome Travel award, State Arts Board, and Bronica scholarship.