Perla de Leon facts for kids

Perla de Leon (born in New York, NY, in 1952) is an American artist and photographer from New York City. She is most famous for her "South Bronx Spirit" photo series. This series shows how the South Bronx changed during the 1970s when many people moved away and the economy struggled.

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 people moved out of the South Bronx. This led to economic problems and changes in the neighborhoods. A big highway, the Cross Bronx Expressway, was also built. Perla de Leon felt that news reports did not show the true story of the South Bronx and its people. So, she decided to use her camera to capture the daily lives of families and children who still lived there.

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 Puerto Rico. This happened after Hurricane Maria caused a lot of damage in 2017.

"South Bronx Spirit" Photo Series (1970s - 1980s)

During the 1970s and 1980s, Perla de Leon took many photos of the South Bronx. This area was home to many African American and Latino families. These pictures became her "South Bronx Spirit" series. The series showed a different side of the South Bronx. It challenged the negative ideas some people had about the area after its economy declined.

Her photos show how the Cross Bronx Expressway divided communities. They also show the damage from many fires in the 1970s. Some streets looked like they had been hit by bombs. But her pictures also show children playing and interacting with her among the ruins. The series helps us understand the history of how government decisions affected poor Black and Latino communities.

The "South Bronx Spirit" photo series has been shown in famous art museums. These include the El Museo del Barrio, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Art Exhibitions

Community and Place in Urban Photography (2017)

Perla de Leon was one of ten Latino photographers in an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This show focused on cities that changed a lot. These changes happened when people moved away and new highways were built. The artists showed how working-class African American and Latino neighborhoods faced economic and social challenges. Perla de Leon's "South Bronx Spirit" series was a key part of this exhibition. The show was also at El Museo del Barrio from September 2018 to January 2019.

Home—So Different, So Appealing (2017)

The "South Bronx Spirit" photo series was also shown in an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This show featured U.S. Latino and Latin American artists. The artists used the idea of "home" to explore big social and political changes. Perla de Leon was one of 39 artists who shared their work. The exhibit looked at how art can show different views on topics like immigration and political issues.

She Persists (2019)

In 2019, Perla de Leon was one of 44 female artists from New York City. Their art was shown at Gracie Mansion, the official home of New York City's mayor. Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted the event. The exhibit wanted to show more of New York's history by featuring women artists. For many years, women were not often shown in Gracie Mansion's art displays.

Books

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

Decades Under Fire: The Invisible Puerto Rican-American is a book by Perla de Leon. It compares economic challenges and events in the South Bronx, Vieques, and Puerto Rico. The book explores how these places faced similar issues.

Other Projects

The Afro Descendant Project - Puerto Rico (2017)

In 2017, Perla de Leon started a new photo series called The Afro Descendant Project - Puerto Rico. This project took portraits of people in Puerto Rico who have African American roots. The goal was to document the lives of these citizens. Their ancestors were brought to Puerto Rico long ago and helped build the island's economy.

Decade of Fire (2018)

Perla de Leon's "South Bronx Spirit" photo series was featured in the 2018 documentary Decade of Fire. This film was directed by Vivian Vazquez and Gretchen Hildebran.