EXHIBITION STATEMENT

As a child, Anthony Garza sat on the living room floor with cousins and siblings, playing lotería the Mexican bingo games that is played with a deck of cards adorned with pictures of objects and people and the playing cards displaying a collage of the pictures. Anthony recalls the familiar callout of, “¡El Gallo! ¡La Estrella! ¡La Dama!” echoing between laughter and friendly competition. It was a simple game, easy to love. But as Anthony grew older, he began to understand something deeper: lotería wasn’t just a pastime—it was a window into the culture of Hispanic peoples around the globe. A way to see our people, our heritage, and our shared dreams reflected through vibrant colors and symbols.

This exhibit, Lotería: A Photographic Study, reimagines the beloved Mexican bingo game as a living, breathing expression of Latino identity and contributions to our community—not just Mexican, but Central American, Caribbean, South American—a celebration of the entire Latino community in all its beautiful diversity. Through photography and AI-enhanced imagery, Anthony invites us to look beyond the game board and into the real and imagined worlds that these iconic images spring from.

Each photo in this collection is inspired by a card—but none are confined by it. Anthony blends the traditions of documentary photography with the creative power of artificial intelligence, using AI not to distort reality, but to deepen it. With every prompt, he expands the edges of the card’s universe: reshaping landscapes, bending time, and creating alternate visions that speak to memory, magic, and belonging.

Nowhere is this more personal than in his work inspired by the gamecard, La Garza. In the photograph above, Anthony stands in the middle of what he calls “Garza Lake”, a quiet body of water where boots sink into soft earth and herons quietly stalk their prey. He’s not just observing—he’s part of the scene, camera in hand, immersed in the very world he’s reimagining. AI helps extend that world, pushing the shoreline left and right, giving new depth to the water, creating a space where tradition and imagination meet. Why stand in the water? Because for Anthony, that’s where the magic happens—in the in-between, in the places where culture isn’t just remembered, but lived. The lake, the bird, the camera, the card—they all speak to the same truth: lotería is not just a game. It is a living archive. A mirror. A possibility.

This exhibit is a testament to that possibility.

To the music of street musicians.

To the prayers whispered to saints.

To the smell of tamales in December and the heat of July sun on a concrete stoop.

To our elders, our neighborhoods, and our children who still play the game with wonder in their eyes.

Lotería: A Photographic Study is not just about what we see.

It’s about how we remember.

And how we imagine what comes next.

Bienvenidos. The cards are calling.

ARTIST BIO

Anthony Garza is an inspired and creative photographer specializing in capturing the diversity of people, animals, and nature. Passionate about fostering connection, understanding, and artistic community involvement through photography. Known for a deep sense of curiosity and empathy, Anthony approaches each shoot with the goal of showcasing the unique personality and character of each subject. Dedicated to social responsibility and community engagement, leveraging photography to promote positive change and make a meaningful impact.

@doublepawphotography| www.dpploteriaexhibit.com

Curated by Anthony Garza

Presented by the Durham Art Guild