Gabriela Castaneda 08/26/2021

Tulsa photographer Gabriela Castaneda reflects on her experiences growing up as a first-generation Mexican American and how they have shaped her work as a photographer. Raised in East Los Angeles in a Spanish-speaking household, she describes feeling disconnected from both American and Mexican cultures, not fully belonging to either one. As an artist, Castaneda uses photography to capture the diversity and beauty of women. She emphasizes the importance of representation in art and talks about the challenges of finding opportunities in Tulsa as a Latinx artist. Castaneda critiques museums and nonprofits for exploiting marginalized communities when profitable but failing to provide meaningful support. She discusses her event, EmpowerHER, which showcases the contributions of women of color in a male-dominated art scene. Castaneda advocates for self-sufficiency in communities of color, emphasizing the need to build community networks without relying on external funding sources, which often come with restrictions.