Mi Cultura: Bringing Shadow into Light; The Photography of Al Rendon

Internationally acclaimed photographer Al Rendón has been documenting the extended culture of south-central Texas for more than five decades. From his early teenage escapades weaseling his way backstage to shoot photos at shows by the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, and others to having his photos grace the covers of Variety and Newsweek, he has given the world a glimpse into Tejano culture and so much more. Featured widely in international media, Al Rendón’s work has appeared in fourteen books and has been exhibited throughout the United States and Latin America and in China.

Mi Cultura captures a wide array of commercial and art photography ranging from charreadas, La Virgen de Guadalupe, and rock and roll and conjunto to immigrant food culture, the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, and the impacts of COVID-19 on already challenged communities. Included is an extensive selection of retratos, or portraits, work Al Rendón is best known for—most notably his photographs of Selena (several of her are in the National Portrait Gallery). Taken as a whole, the collection reflects a timely cross section of historical and contemporary life in south-central Texas by one of the country’s most important photographers.