Photoville

Alejandro Cegarra traveled the borderland between the US and Mexico, creating empathic black-and-white pictures, drawing attention to the plight of migrants and refugees, as well as their dramatic situation. Mexico was once known as a safe haven for refugees. In recent years, the country has entered into a partnership with anti-immigration politicians in the United States. The Two Walls focuses on the struggles of migrants and their families who are suffering under harsh and inhumane conditions at Mexico’s border.

“Through the policy of denying asylum and Mexico’s role as a co-enforcer, the United States and Mexico have added new layers to the already towering wall, leaving those most in need of the right to asylum stranded amid an unfathomable struggle, halted next to a physical, psychological and administrative multi-layered barrier that stands as a monument of separation designed to shut down the doors that once promised refuge to those seeking safety, conducting them into a labyrinth of uncertainty. Current policies are a disheartening testament to the disconnect between the politics of power and the plight of the vulnerable. This project is a call to action, urging us to dismantle the barriers and the systemic obstacles that confine migrants and asylum seekers within this labyrinthine ordeal. We can create a course toward a more compassionate and inclusive future through collective understanding, empathy, and a renewed commitment to human rights.” — Alejandro Cegarra

Artist Bios

  • Alejandro Cegarra

    Alejandro Cegarra (b. 1989) is a Venezuelan photographer whose work explores the essence of belonging, the pursuit of home, and the denunciation of human rights violations in Venezuela and Mexico, where he currently resides. He also focuses on news from Central America and the Caribbean region.

    Cegarra began his career in photojournalism in 2012 by filling in for photographers at Venezuela’s largest newspaper, Última Noticias. Since then, he has worked as a freelancer, contributing to publications such as The New York Times, Bloomberg, National Geographic, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Time, among others.

    During his career, he has been awarded the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2025, becoming the first photographer ever to win both the main and the newcomer categories (the latter received in 2014). He has also been recognized with the Getty Editorial Grant (2017) and two World Press Photo Awards for long-term projects (2019 and 2024, the latter with the global award for long-term projects).

Organizations

  • Leica Camera

    Leica Camera

    For 50 years, Leica Galleries across the globe have existed as more than mere exhibition spaces. They are places for imagination, dialogue, and connection. Since the first Leica Gallery opened in Wetzlar in 1976, a global network of Leica Galleries has grown across continents. These galleries are united by the belief that images have the power to move people and change perspectives. The Leica Galleries celebrate the art of seeing and the power of photography. They have been bringing cultures, generations, and stories together, spanning borders, for half a century—reinforcing the idea that true photography is timeless and that seeing is still a universal language.

     

The Two Walls

 coming soon

Featuring: Alejandro Cegarra

Presented by: Leica
  • Leica Camera

Locations

View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza

1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201

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The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.

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