Juliana Rico (she/they) is an award winning, nationally showcased, queer, Latinx, visual artist, educator, consultant, and academic. She earned her MFA in Creative Photography from California State University Fullerton and BFA in Photography from San Jose State University. She moves between the unceded Tongva lands of Los Angeles and the Ohlone lands of San José, CA, always carrying each in her heart.
Images have power. Rico did not see authentic representations of any facets of her identity growing up. Her intersectional identity consistently places her in the position of “the other.” She uses this perspective to question, investigate, confront, and unlearn indoctrinated colonial practices and perspectives. Her work carves out space for many underrepresented groups and challenges popular Western ways of thinking.
As an educator, Rico is dedicated to student success, diversity, and equity. She aims to help empower young artists to tell their stories through art and aims to demystify the creative field. Rico is a full-time photography professor at Pasadena City College who also mentors emerging artists through community organizations.
Interview with ShoutOut LA
An interview for the Taking Up Space exhibition at Brea Gallery in 2021.