Raul Herrera
Raul Herrera was born in East LA and grew up in the city of Los Angeles. During his teens, he
became interest in photography. Soon after graduating from high school, he joined a team youth
as part of a project for the Getty Conservation Institute, called PICTURE LA; Landmarks of a New
Generation, which allowed him to photograph and redefine city landmarks for those within the
project. However, it was this project’s theme that allowed him to explore his cultural
political and urban identity as a community activist in the making.
For the first time, he knew
that with photography he would be able to visually capture and transmit both his cultural and
political views, as not separte entity, but as an inseparable one.
He obtained an AA and a BA degree in Chicano/a Studies. He is also in the process od completing
his Master’s degree in Chicano/a Studies from CSUN.
He also is an Aztec dancer for Danza Mexica
Cuauhtemoc, which allows him to remain rooted to his community and both culturally and
politically active throughout the San Fernando Valley. Raul considered himself to be an
activist long before he could consider himself an artist.