Samanta Helou Hernandez

“Over the course of the last decade — some relationships spanning even longer — Diana Yesenia Alvarado, Michael Alvarez, Mario Ayala, Karla Ekaterine Canseco, rafa esparza, Alfonso Gonzalez Jr., Ozzie Juarez, Maea, Jaime Muñoz, Guadalupe Rosales, Gabriela Ruiz and Shizu Saldamando have been in an evolving dialogue about what it looks like, and what it means, to make work in L.A. right now.

Being in the same room with these artists, a comfort and familiarity rises to the surface. Their own little world forms around them, where they all speak the same language and have been for a long time. These artists are peers. Their individual practices inspire and sharpen each other’s in subtle and overt ways. But they’re also homies. Their work is chock full of messages that are coded in an IYKYK experience.“ - Julissa James (@goodjuju8) for @latimesimage

It was an honor to photograph this group of artists. As @goodjuju8 noted, it’s truly special to live in LA at the same time as them and to bear witness to their practice.

Thank you to the artists for the trust and making the time in the middle of installing their co-curated group exhibition “At the Edge of the Sun,” now on view at @jeffreydeitchgallery.

Lighting & assist: @saulebarrera @dr.farfetched - could not have done this without yall 🙏🏼

Thank you @goodjuju8 for being my partner in this 🥹

And mil, pero mil gracias to @el_new_jalisco_bar for their generosity and allowing us to photograph inside this sacred space 💜

Link in bio for the full story.