Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Montenegro.
Michelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
hi :3 my name is Michelle Montenegro! I’m a first-generation Guatemalan-American from Los Angeles. I grew up in an apartment on Serrano Ave. in Ktown alongside my 2 older sisters, my parents, and my dog Lola. Later, I moved to the San Fernando Valley, in the Arleta/Pacoima area, with my entire family.
From a young age, I recognized the importance of having a close-knit community that was dependable and compassionate. My family extended from my aunts and cousins, who also lived in our complex, to all of my neighbors: Dona Linda, Dona Dulce, Yulissa, Leslie, Caballo, Elsa, etc. My mom tells stories of her and other neighbors, putting together money for Christmas gifts for all the kids and organizing a yearly Christmas dinner. My childhood apartment truly felt like one big family, one where everyone looked after one and other and everyone was in everyone’s business LOL.
My lived experiences, especially from childhood, shaped my personhood. I sought to build connections in all spaces I entered, including artistic ones. My artistic interests started with dance. I LOVE to dance, so much so that I would have to ask my cousins to take me out to dance at every family party ever. Cumbias were my favorite, and I especially loved to watch my Tia Aleyda’s techniques. Up until middle school, I participated in dance at LA’s Best Afterschool program. In high school, my interests expanded to photography, while still dancing with Versa Style Dance Company. I signed myself up for a photo education program called Las Fotos Project where I established myself as an artist. My photography is informed by the historical, social, and aesthetic contexts that reflect my identity and my experiences. Currently, I am pursuing my B.A. in NGOs and Social Change and a Master of Urban Planning at USC with a concentration in Arts and Culture.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I was about 16, my best friend Sarah and I began producing photoshoots, shooting each other as talent. We loved to create together, style our hair, put outfits together, and execute a vision we imagined. We even started making Youtube videos that never saw the light of day haha. One of my favorite photographers Thalía Gochez saw our photos on Instagram and reached out to shoot us for an LA-based brand called Bella Dona. This shoot was the catalyst for the rest of my modeling experience. Local photographers and brands began reaching out to shoot both Sarah and I. Viva La Bonita was one of the brands that we worked with and still work with now, about 5 years later. Modeling has always felt so fun and liberating. The creative direction and ethics I learned from these experiences influenced my own practice as a photographer. I enjoy shooting my family (especially my mom), my homegirls from high school, my safe spaces, and really anything that moves me aesthetically, intellectually, politically and spiritually. More recently, I have incorporated family archives in my work. As a kid, I would go through boxes of archival photos and objects over and over again. While I looked at the same images and things repeatedly, it was always a magical experience. When Las Fotos Project presented me with the opportunity for a solo-residency exhibition in partnership with OXY Arts, I knew I wanted to showcase all of the stories living in these images. Fotos y Recuerdos: Guatemala in Los Angeles is an archive documenting the Guatemalan diaspora in Los Angeles, the largest community outside of Guatemala. This project is a personal and collective exploration of how communities in diaspora preserve and share their histories. It features over 100 family photo archives and stories submitted by community members, alongside my own family’s archives, creating a rich, multi-layered narrative of migration, memory, and identity. What makes this project especially meaningful is its focus on the importance of archives and image-making in building community connection. The photographs and objects in the archive—from family portraits to everyday items like soccer jerseys and VHS tapes—reflect the diverse experiences of Guatemalans in LA. Each piece serves as a testament to the resilience and solidarity of the community, even as their struggles differ. The project is not just about preserving memories but about reclaiming and honoring our diverse identities in the face of loss and displacement. Fotos y Recuerdos has been a powerful way for me to connect with my heritage and with others in the Guatemalan community. It’s a celebration of the ways we remember and make home, despite the challenges of migration. The project’s ability to bring comfort, recognition, and connection to people who see themselves reflected in the archives makes it deeply special and continues to inspire my work as an artist.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love all of the art and culture in our city, it is truly such a special, charming place. I love it so much that I decided to pursue a career in urban planning! But seriously, there is no place like home. The cultural vibrance, historical significance, and compassionate people make the city what it is.
The city can improve the quality of life of its residents by developing public infrastructure and transportation that supports walkability. LA can do a better job of engaging local artists with urban planning projects to further enhance the vibrancy of the city.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: dr3amingofu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellemonten/
Image Credits
Isa Perez
