Manuel Alejandro Vasquez
—
Born and raised in Inglewood, California, Manny is the twin son of immigrant parents from Oaxaca, Mexico. A first generation Mexican-American, he draws from his exposure to latino art, language, and cultural heritage in his home-state of California as well as those same influences from his parent’s homeland.
“My parents had to give up everything to come to this country and build a life for their children. In a lot of ways survival meant assimilation, and while they worked hard to impart a pride and understanding of my heritage there were also quite a few cultural practices that they had to shed and leave behind. My creative practice is a way to reclaim that cultural inheritance and to honor my roots.”
He now lives in the city of Philadelphia, operating as a freelance photographer and working with non-profit organizations in the development of community focused art projects.