Perla de Leon facts for kids

Perla de Leon (born in New York, NY, in 1952) is an American artist and photographer. She is famous for her "South Bronx Spirit" photo series. This series shows how the South Bronx area of New York City changed and faced many challenges in the 1970s.

About Perla de Leon

Perla de Leon grew up in Harlem, New York. Her family has roots in Puerto Rico. In the mid-1900s, many changes happened in New York City. People with more money moved out of certain areas. Big highways like the Cross Bronx Expressway were built. These changes caused problems and made life harder for working-class families in the South Bronx.

Perla de Leon felt that the news wasn't showing the true story of what was happening. She wanted to capture the daily lives of families and children who lived there. So, she started taking photographs.

Perla de Leon also works as an activist. In 2018, she teamed up with LuminAid and students from the University of Puerto Rico. They gave out solar lights to people in faraway parts of the island. This happened after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017.

"South Bronx Spirit" Photo Series

From the 1970s to the 1980s, Perla de Leon took many photos of the South Bronx. This area was home to many African American and Latino families. Her pictures became the "South Bronx Spirit" series.

These photos showed a different side of the South Bronx. They went against the negative ideas people had about the area. Her pictures show how the Cross Bronx Expressway broke up neighborhoods. They also show the damage from many fires in the 1970s. Some streets looked like they had been bombed.

The photos often feature children playing among the ruins. They show how people kept their spirits up even in tough times. Perla de Leon wanted her series to be a historical record. It shows the effects of government policies on poor communities.

The "South Bronx Spirit" series has been shown in famous art museums. These include the El Museo del Barrio and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It was also shown at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2018, she talked about her project on a radio show called Constructive Forces.

Art Exhibitions

Down These Mean Streets: Community and Place in Urban Photography (2017)

Perla de Leon was one of ten Latino photographers in this exhibition. It was held at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The show looked at cities that changed a lot. This happened when people moved away and new highways were built. These highways often cut through busy neighborhoods.

The artists showed how these changes affected working-class communities. Perla de Leon's "South Bronx Spirit" series was a key part of this exhibit. The show also traveled to El Museo del Barrio in New York City.

Home—So Different, So Appealing (2017)

The "South Bronx Spirit" photo series was also part of this exhibition. It was put together by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The show featured artists from the U.S. and Latin America.

The artists used the idea of "home" to show big changes in society and politics. Perla de Leon was one of 39 artists who shared their work. The exhibit explored how art can reflect challenges like immigration policies.

She Persists (2019)

Perla de Leon was one of 44 female artists from New York City featured in this show. It was the first art exhibition for women at Gracie Mansion. Gracie Mansion is the official home of the Mayor of New York City.

Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted the event. The goal was to show more of New York's history. For over 200 years, women artists were not often featured at Gracie Mansion. This exhibit helped change that.

Books

Decades Under Fire: The Invisible Puerto Rican-American (2019 - 2020)

This is a book that Perla de Leon is working on. It will compare the challenges faced by the South Bronx, Vieques, and Puerto Rico. She looks at how money problems, fires, and U.S. policies affected these places.

Other Projects

The Afro Descendant Project - Puerto Rico (2017)

In 2017, Puerto Rico marked 500 years since it became a Spanish colony. To recognize this, Perla de Leon started a new photo series. She took portraits of people in Puerto Rico who have African American roots.

Her goal was to show the "most vulnerable and invisible citizens" of Puerto Rico. These are people whose ancestors were brought to the island as slaves. They helped build Puerto Rico's economy.

Decade of Fire (2018)

Perla de Leon's "South Bronx Spirit" photo series was featured in this 2018 documentary. The film was directed by Vivian Vazquez and Gretchen Hildebran.