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Reynaldo Rivera, born 1964 is a photographer known for Photography, notably of Latinx culture. Capturing historic queer, transgender, and predominantly Latinx scenes, such as clubs and house parties in late 20th-century Los Angeles. He photographed clubs including La Plaza, the Silverlake Lounge, Mugy’s, and Little Joy.^[1]

Rivera’s black and white photographs are known for their intimate documentation and focus on the everyday life and private moments of Latinx women, artists, and drag performers of the time.^[2] Rivera considers this as a type of activism against the forms cultural erasure that continuously inflicts these communities. Citing gentrification, violence, and a lack of public record-keeping as reasons that have led to their marginalization and erasure,^[3] Rivera is known for bringing visibility to queer, Latinx-Angeleno history.^[3]

Reynaldo Rivera was born in 1964 in Mexicali, Mexico. ^[4] While growing up, he moved to many places throughout the United States and Mexico.^[4] He now resides permanently in East Los Angeles, the site of the queer history he documented through his photos.^[4]

Rivera's mother and father, both born in Mexico, met in Stockton. After his parents separated, Rivera oscillated between living with his mother and his father.^[4] He navigated his childhood through various places, including Stockton, Pasadena, Mexicali, and Santa Ana, with his sister, Herminia.^[5] Although most of Rivera's time was spent with his mother in Glendale, there were times when his father would take Rivera to reside with him.^[2] Starting at the age of five, Rivera lived with his abusive grandmother, for four consecutive years after being kidnapped by his father.^[2] Thereafter, Rivera's father would often bring him from Glendale to the San Jaoquin Valley, where Rivera was exposed to his father's illegal activities.^[2] Rivera also had some run-ins with the law, such as when he was faced with charges in the sixth grade for selling drugs.^[2]

Rivera cites photography as a way for him to find stability.^[2] His first camera was a Pentax K1000.^[2] He began his career by photographing hotel cleaners.^[6] Rivera credits the employee at the film development spot he frequented for explaining the mechanics of his camera to him after his initial pictures were coming out blank.^[5] During his early pursuit of photography, Rivera did not have enough money to afford all the film he needed, which he credits with necessitating the development of his editing skills.^[5] His first piece was a 1983 selection aimed at bringing life to the site in Mexico City where his step-grandfather was murdered.^[2]

Rivera’s first professional gig when he entered his 20's was photographing live punk and rock music, such as performances by Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Sonic Youth.^[6] He then transitioned to photographing drag bars, house parties, and queer clubs during the 1980s and 1990s.^[6]

• Tatiana Volty, 1986, Silverlake Lounge^[7]
• Anna LaCazio and Judy Pokonosky, 1989, Echo Park^[8]
• Elyse Regehr and Javier Orosco, 1989, Downtown LA
• Miss Alex, 1992, Echo Park
• Olga, 1992, La Plaza
• Wes Cuttler, 1992, Echo Park^[9]
• Angela, 1993, La Plaza    
• Gaby, Reynaldo and Angela, 1993, La Plaza
• Laura, La Plaza, 1993^[10]
• Melissa and Gaby, 1993, La Plaza
• Montenegro, 1995, Silverlake Lounge
• Patron, 1995, Silverlake Lounge
• Performer, 1995, Silverlake Lounge
• Tina, 1995, Mugy’s
• Vanessa, 1995, Silverlake Lounge^[11]
• Richard Villegas Jr., friend, and Enrique, 1996
• Girls, 1997, El Conquistador^[12]
• La Plaza, 1997, La Plaza

• Kiss Me Deadly, Reena Spaulings Fine Art, 2021, New York
• Made in LA 2020: A Version, Hammer Museum / The Huntington Library, 2021, Los Angeles
• Comedy of Errors, The Gallery At, 2020, Hollywood
• Avengers - Someone Left a Cake Out in the Rain, Gaga & Reena Spaulings Fine Art, 2019, Los Angeles