by the El Reportero staff
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is strengthening its commitment to Latin American art with the acquisition of 33 photographs by acclaimed Mexican photographer Alejandro Cartagena, adding one of Mexico’s most influential contemporary visual artists to the museum’s permanent collection.
The acquisition is part of SFMOMA’s announcement that it has added more than 90 modern and contemporary artworks by artists from around the world, reflecting the museum’s continued effort to broaden the diversity of voices represented in its galleries.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in northern Mexico, Cartagena has built an international reputation through photography that examines urban development, migration, family life and the changing landscapes of the U.S.-Mexico border. His images often explore how rapid growth and social change affect everyday communities while blending documentary photography with conceptual art.
SFMOMA acquired works from Cartagena’s acclaimed Without Walls series, including Mother #33 and Daughter #34. The photographs investigate relationships between people and the spaces they inhabit, offering intimate portraits that invite viewers to reflect on identity, belonging and human connection.
The acquisition comes as SFMOMA is also highlighting Mexican art through its major summer exhibition, Graciela Iturbide: Between Two Worlds, the first large U.S. retrospective in more than two decades devoted to one of Mexico’s most celebrated photographers. Together, the exhibition and Cartagena’s newly acquired works underscore the museum’s growing investment in showcasing contemporary Mexican artists.
For Bay Area audiences, the announcement represents another opportunity to experience internationally recognized Latino artists whose work reflects themes familiar to many local communities, including migration, culture, family and cross-border experiences.
SFMOMA, one of the nation’s leading modern art museums, continues expanding its permanent collection with artists whose work reflects a broad range of cultural perspectives. Museum officials said the latest acquisitions reinforce their commitment to presenting art that speaks to today’s social realities while preserving important artistic voices for future generations.
Visitors can currently explore the museum’s summer exhibitions, including the Graciela Iturbide retrospective, while future gallery installations will gradually incorporate Cartagena’s photographs into SFMOMA’s permanent collection, allowing Bay Area residents to experience another significant chapter in contemporary Mexican photography.
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