Born: October 26, 1959 in San Gabriel, California

Died: April 25, 2018 in Long Beach, CA

Self taught

Selected Solo and Two Person Exhibitions

2003

"New Bodies of Work from Laura Aguilar," Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, San Antonio, TX

2001

"Center," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA

2000

"Stillness & Motion," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA

1999

"Stillness," ArtPace, San Antonio, TX

1998

"El jo divers ("The Diverse Self")," Fundacio "la Caixa", Barcelona, Spain

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024-2025

"For Dear Life: Art, Medicine, and Disability," Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA

2023-2024

"What Has Been and What Could Be: The BAMPFA Collection," UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA

2023

"Perpetual Portrait," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

2022-2023

"Ecstatic Land," Ballroom Marfa, Marfa, TX

2021-2022

"Our whole, unruly selves," San José Museum of Art, San José, CA (Link)

2018

"Reclaimed," Linda Pace Foundation, San Antonio, TX

2007

"normal love—precarious life, precarious sex," Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany curated by Renate Lorenz

2006

"Mangnan Emrich Contemporary," Chelsea, NY, with Delilah Montoya

"This is not a Love Song," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA

"Passing Through, Settling In: Photographs of the Desert," Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, curated by Kate Bonansinga

"Expressive Bodies: Contemporary Art Photography from The Kinsey Institute," The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, School of Fine Arts Gallery at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, with Lynn Bianchi, Joel-Peter Witkin, Frank Yamrus, Mariette Path Allen, and Pierre et Gilles; Traveling to Herron Gallery, Indianapolis, ID

2004

"S.P.F.," Angles Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

"Only Skin Deep Changing Visions of the American Self," International Center of Photography, curated by Brian Wallis and Coco Fusco, catalog

"AC," 473 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY, curated by Jeff Koan Baysa

"Fat Attitudes - an exploration of an American subculture & the representation of the female body," Columbia University, New York, NY

"Fusion: A Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival," Los Angeles, CA

2003

"Koerper - Konstrukt - Schoenheit (Body – Construct – Beauty)," Galerie der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig, Germany, with Olaf Breuning, Mona Hatoum, Marie-Jo Lafontaine, Zoe Leonard, Bjorn Melhus, Orlan, Jack Pierson

The Armory Show, New York, with Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA

"H2O," Danese Gallery, New York, NY

2002-2003

"Der Akt in der Kunst des 20. Jahrhunderts (The Nude in the Art of the 20th Century)," Kunsthalle Emden, Germany (catalog)

2002

"water," The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

"Majestic Sprawl - Some LA Photography," Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, CA, curated by Andrea Feldman

"H2O," Hobart and William Smith College, Geneva, New York (catalog)

"The Beautiful Gender: Transformations and Continuities", Sala de Exposiciones de la Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, curated by Margarita Aizpuru, with Andres Serrano, Orlan, Cheryl Donegan, Martha Rosler, Nicole Eisenman, Daniela Steinfeld, catalog

"Art/Women/California: Parallels and Intersections, 1950-2000," San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA, catalog

"Super Sex," Post, Los Angeles, CA, with Nicole Eisenman, Nicoletta Munroe, Sharon Ryan, Naomi Fisher, curated by Michael Gold

2001

"COLA 2001," Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA

"fotografia y sociedad," Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Caracas Sofia Imber, Spain

2000

"Made In California," Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA

"Aztlan Today: The Chicano Postnation," Communidad de Madrid, Spain and Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY, catalog

1999

"The Nude in Contemporary Art," Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT

1998

Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1997-1998

"Sunshine & Noir - Art in L.A. 1960-1997," Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark, UCLA at the Armand Hammer Museum, Westwood, CA, Museum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Germany

"American Voices: Latin Photographers in the United States," Smithsonian Institution's International Gallery, Washington, D.C.

1996

"Sexual Politics: Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party," in Feminist Art History, Armand Hammer Museum, UCLA, Westwood, CA

Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, NY

James D. Phelan Art Award in Photography Exhibition, San Francisco Camerawork

"Vital Signs," Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

"P.L.A.N. -Photography Los Angeles Now", LA County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

"In a Different Light," University Art Museum of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

"Pervert," University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA

1995

"Temporarily Possessed: The semi-permanent Collection," The New Museum of Art, New York, NY

1994

"Encuentro Interamerieano de Artist Plasticos Exposicion," Universida De Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico

"New Photography II/ New Acquisitions Exhibition," LA County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA

"Bad Girl," The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, NY

"Bad Girls West," UCLA Wight Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1993

"Aperto 93," LA Biennale di Venezia, XLVB Esposizione Internazionale d'Art 1993, Venice, Italy

1992

"Breaking Barriers: Revisualizing the Urban Landscape," Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA

"Disorient: Perspectives in Colonialism," University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

"Ojo Abierto/Open Eye," Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, CA

"Working W/people," Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1991

"L.A. iluminado," Otis School of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA

"Forbidden Language: Beauty and Culture," University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

1990

"All But the Obvious," Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA

"El Dia de los Muertos/ The Day of the Dead," Los Angeles Photography Center, Los Angeles, CA and The Women's Building Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

"Image and Identity: Recent Chicana Art," Laband Art Gallery, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA

1989

"Contemporary Latin Photography," Los Angeles Photography Center, Los Angeles, CA

1988

"Mexican/Mexican American Photography," Mexico National General Archives Mexico D.F

"Visible Differences: Images of a Diverse U.S. Culture, A National Exhibition of 14 Photographers," Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, CA

1987

"Women Photographers in America 1987," Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1986

"Dia de los Muertos/ The Day of the Dead," Los Angeles Photography Center, Los Angeles, CA

1985

"Seven Latin Photographers," Self Help Graphics, East Los Angeles, CA

Bibliography

2021

DiQuinzio, A., Hejinian, L., and Butler, J. (2021). New time: Art and feminisms in the 21st Century. Pg 88-89. University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

2006

Kuusinen, Asta, Shooting from the Wild Zone: A Study of the Chicana Art Photographers Laura Aguilar, Celia Álvarez Muñoz, Delilah Montoya, and Kathy Vargas, University of Helsinki

Jones, Amelia, Self/Image: Technology, Representation, and the Contemporary Subject, Routledge Press, London and New York

Selz, Peter, "On Racism, Discrimination and Identity Politics”, Art of Engagement, Visual Politics in California and Beyond, University of California Press, Berkley and Los Angeles, CA, University of California, Ltd. London, England, San Jose Museum of Modern Art, San Jose, CA, pp.218-219 (image reproduction pg.219)

2005

Davis, Angela Y. and Tadiar, Neferti X, "Beyond the Frame: Women of Color and Photography", Palgrave Publishers (in progress)

Mahon, Alyce, Eroticism and Art, "Erotic Fragmentation and Abjection”, Oxford University Press, England, pg. 267 (book with reproduced images)

Sinister Wisdom, No.64, Spring Issue, pg.7-9 (image)

2004

Oboler, Suzanne, and Gonzales, Deena J. (eds), "The Encyclopaedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States", Oxford University Press

Lazzari, Margaret & Schlesier, Donna, "Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach", New York

2003

Henry, Lisa, "Still Life / Natural Beauty", FotoFile, #44, November 2003, pg 16 - 20, Jones, Amelia, ARTFORUM, pg. 143, October issue

ZYZZYVA, Volume XIX.2, Fall 2003, pg. 81

Breen, Margaret & Blumenfeld, Warren (editors): "Butler Matters: Judith Butler's Impact on Gender and Queer Studies Since Gender Trouble, Ashgate Publishers (in progress)

"Only Skin Deep Changing Visions of the American Self ", International Center of Photography, catalog

Smith, Bill, "The Natural - Laura Aguilar, in the flesh", LA WEEKLY, Cover and feature article, January 10

2002

Achim Sommer, Nils Ohlsen (Hrsg.), "Der Akt in der Kunst des 20. Jahrhunderts" (The Nude in the Art of the 20th Century), Kunsthalle Emden, Wienand Verlag, 2002, pg. 89-90, 98-99

Mesa-Bains, Amalia, "Calafia / Califas - A Brief History of Chicana California"

Burgess Fuller, Diana, and Salvioni, Daniela, "Burning Down the House: Feminist Art in California"

Phillips, Sandra S., "Women Artists in California and Their Engagement with Photography", in "Women / Art / California - Parallels and Intersections 1950 - 2000", University of California Press, 2002, pg. 137-139, 173, 254

Nueva Luz, Commemorative Issue, May 2002

Aizpuru, Margarita, "The Beautiful Gender: Transformations and Continuities", Sala de Exposiciones de la Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, exhibition catalog essay

Knight, Christopher, "Female Artists Just Foolin' Around", Los Angeles Times, February 22

2001

Myers, Holly, "City, Too, Benefits from Grants", Los Angeles Times Calendar, June 7

Muchnic, Suzanne, "City-Sponsored Freedom", Los Angeles Times Calendar, Sunday, May 20

Davalos, Karen Mary, "Exhibiting Mestizaje - Mexican (American) Museums in the Diaspora", University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 2001

"Encuentro Iberamericano de Fotografia, catalog, pg 15

Willis, Holly, "'Air Raids' in Support of Local Video", Artweek, Vol. 32, issue No. 1, January

2000

Jones, Amelia, and Warr, Tracey, "The Artist's Body", published by Phaidon Press, London

Hammond, Harmony, "Lesbian Art In America", New York 2000

Chicago, Judy and Lucie-Smith, Edward, "Women and Art", New York 1999

Rousseau, Ann Marie, "Of Heaven and Hell: Another Day in LA, Stillness and Motion, Laura Aguilar, Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects", PHOTO METRO, Volume 18

Martin, Victoria, "Laura Aguilar at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects", Artweek

Sichel, Berta, "Aztlan Today: The Chicano Postnation”, Exhibition catalog, published by Comunidad de Madrid, Spain, 1999-2000

"Egg The Arts Show”, Section "The Body”, KCET Los Angeles (with Carolee Schneemann and John Currin)

Rosenberg, Howard: ‘EGG’: It’s Not Always Just Breakfast”, LOS ANGELES TIMES, February 2

1999

Nochlin, Linda, "Offbeat and Naked", feature article on artnet.com, November

Smith, Roberta, "In Connecticut, the Scars of War, the Works of Peace", The New York Times, July 30

Cottingham, Laura, "Laura Aguilar”, ArtPace Exhibition Essay, May

McGovern, Thomas, "Depictions of Class in West Coast Photography", Artweek, January

1998

Gerstler, Amy, "Art Attack", Los Angeles Magazine, November issue

Jones, Amelia, "Body Art - Performing the Subject," University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1998

"El jo divers" ("The Diverse Self"), Fundacio "la Caixa", Barcelona, SpaiN

Cruewell, Constanze, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung/ Kultur, March 21

Gross, Roland, Berliner Morgenpost, Feuilleton, March 19

Huther, Christian, Der Tagesspiegel, Berlin, March 21

Deutsche Presseagentur, March 19

1996

"Chicana Creativity & Criticism," 2nd edition, edited by Maria Hererra-Sobek and Helena Maria Viramontes; published by University of New Mexico Press

Jones, Amelia, "Sexual Politics / Judy Chicago's Dinner Party in Feminist art History," (catalog), published by UCLA Armand Hammer Museum of Art, Westwood

1995

"Reframings - New American Feminist Photographies," pg. 242, 243, 244, 245; edited by Diane Neumaier; published by Temple University Press, Philadelphia

"In A Different Light," pg. 93; edited by Nayland Blake, Lawrence Rinder & Amy Scholder, published by City Lights Books San Francisco

1994

Foto Fest 94, pg.37, The 5th Biennial International Festival of Photography

Museo de las Artes, Universidad De Guadalajara (catalog)

"Uncontrollable Bodies - Testimonies of Identity and Culture," published by Bay Press

1993

Bad Girls (catalog), pg. 56, published by the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York

FlashArt, Aperto 93 Emergency

La Biennale di Venezia, XLV Espozsizione Internazionale d/Art 1993

1992

Frame-Work: The Journal of Images and Culture, Vol. 6, issue 1

Art in America, June 1992, No. 6, pg. 61

1991

Frame-Work: The Journal of Images and Culture, Portfolio 1991, Vol. 4

1990

The Photo Review, Vol. 13, No.3, summer 1990, Ed. Stephen Perloff, pg. 13

1987

The Photo Review, Vol. 10, No. 3, summer 1987, Ed. Stephen Perloff

Public Collections

The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

DG Bank Collection, Frankfurt, Germany

State Finance Office of Hessen, Germany

Latin American Art, Scottsdale, Arizona

Light Work, Syracuse, New York

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, California

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA

The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, New York

Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Department, Santa Monica, California

Stanford University, Stanford, California

Awards, Grants and Fellowships

Anonymous Was A Woman Award, New York, 2000

COLA, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Los Angeles, 2000

ArtPace, Residency, San Antonio, Texas, 1999

California Community Foundation's J. Paul Getty Grant for the Visual Arts, 1998

The James D. Phelan Art Award - Photography, sponsored by the San Francisco Foundation, administered by SF Camerawork, 1995

California Arts Council Fellowship, California Arts Council, Los Angeles, CA, 1994/95

Artist in Residence Grant, California Arts Council, through the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, 1991-94