The South Florida Latin American Photography Forum (SoFLaFoto) is a nonprofit platform dedicated to advancing critical engagement with Latin American and Latinx photographic practices. With a focus on artists living and working in South Florida and across the United States, SoFLaFoto supports and amplifies lens-based work that explores the complexities of Latin American and diasporic experiences.

Our mission is to document, preserve, and critically examine photography that engages with urgent themes, including migration, memory, identity, family, race, religion, gender, inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights, within the frameworks of contemporary, documentary, and street photography. We are committed to highlighting underrepresented narratives and fostering dialogue across borders and communities.

Through exhibitions, public programs, collaborative research, and an evolving digital archive, SoFLaFoto serves as a dynamic platform for artists, curators, scholars, and the public. We also partner with institutions and individuals whose work aligns with our goals to build visibility for Latin American and Latinx photographic practices, both regionally and globally.

Photo Credit: @ William Riera

Image credit: William Riera, Little Haiti, Miami, 2015

OUR MISSION

  • Create a comprehensive archive of authors who live and work in the Florida region and those who are no longer with us to preserve their cultural and artistic legacy.

  • Promote academic and public debate on topics related to Latin American photography, both within U.S. society and across the Latin American region.

  • Stimulate critical discussion on perceptions of Latin America through the lenses of U.S. photographers.

  • Disseminate and support the work of photographers and visual artists who collaborate with the Latin American community, either within the United States or in Latin America.

  • Share academic articles, tutorials, and informational resources that are of interest to the photographic community.

  • Broadcast the latest news and advancements related to photography, both locally and globally.

  • Organize exhibitions, workshops, and conferences that promote the exchange of ideas and techniques among photographers and visual artists from diverse cultures.

  • Facilitate educational programs for emerging young talents in the field of photography and visual arts.

  • Collaborate with academic and cultural institutions to conduct research and publications that enrich the understanding of Latin American photography.

  • Promote inclusion and diversity within the photographic field, ensuring that the voices of all sectors of society are heard and valued.

WHO WE ARE

William Riera is a visual storyteller based in Miami, Florida, where he has lived since 1995. He graduated with highest honors in Software Systems Engineering from the Technological University of Havana (CUJAE) in 1990 before transitioning into a career as a professional Software Analyst and Developer with the Miami-Dade County Information Technology Department. In the early 2000s, Riera discovered his passion for photography, beginning his formal training in black-and-white analog photography at Miami-Dade College and deepening his technical foundation through the New York Institute of Photography. He later expanded his artistic vision by attending workshops at the Página en Blando Photography School in Mexico City, where he studied under renowned critic and curator Juan Antonio Molina Cuesta. In 2022, he earned a Master's Degree in Modern and Contemporary Art from Casa LAMM Cultural Center, also in Mexico City. His photography has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the United States, Mexico, and Spain. Since 2015, he has been an active voice in Miami's cultural landscape, and in 2020, he founded the South Florida Latin American Photography Forum (SoFLaFoto). He has been a member of the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art (IKT) since 2026.

Andreina Fuentes Angarita is a Miami-based visual artist, curator, philanthropist, and cultural producer, whose entrepreneurial spirit has shaped a dynamic career blending art and social activism. Her interdisciplinary work spans photography, video, and performance, focusing on themes of identity, social justice, and human rights, particularly championing marginalized communities. As a key cultural entrepreneur, Fuentes Angarita curates exhibitions that bring together diverse perspectives, amplifying the voices of Latin American artists and the diaspora. She has established herself as an influential figure in the international art scene, creating platforms that foster dialogue, challenge social norms, and address important cultural issues. Her practice critiques conventional perceptions, driving social impact and awareness beyond the art world into broader society. Trained at renowned institutions such as the Art Students League of New York, Roberto Mata Photography School in Venezuela, and PHotoEspaña in Spain, Fuentes Angarita uses her artistic and curatorial expertise to elevate underrepresented artists and address critical social topics, reinforcing her role as a cultural innovator and advocate for meaningful social change.

Mahara Martinez is a Miami-based curator and art advisor recognized for her significant contributions to the South Florida art scene. She has curated several notable exhibitions showcasing works from emerging and mid-career artists across various media, such as painting, video, and performance. Martinez’s curatorial practice reflects her commitment to elevating diverse voices and tackling socially relevant topics, particularly identity, art, and activism, which has firmly established her influence in Miami's contemporary art landscape. An alumna of the University of Havana with a background in art history, Martinez has also focused on promoting Latin American artists in the United States. In 2019, she founded Vitrinalab Foundation, the first institution dedicated to fostering Chilean contemporary art in the U.S. She is also the founder and director of Mahara+Co, a multidisciplinary consultancy and design studio specializing in art projects, exhibitions, architecture, and interior design, where she offers guidance to new artists seeking opportunities in the U.S. art market.