Louis Chavez is an artist, curator, and educator based in Rochester, New York. Their creative and research interests include queer activism and art practices, conceptual modes in photography, experimental cinema, and artist’s books. Chavez was a selected participant in the 2024 Impromptu Photobook Workshop, hosted by the independent photography publisher Void, and was a 2023 Project Space artist-in-residence at Visual Studies Workshop. They were also a graduate presenter at the Society for Photographic Education’s national conference in 2023 and a participant in SOILED: The Downtown Dirty Bookfair, curated by Matthew Leifheit in 2022. Their photographic work has been included in exhibitions at Light Work (Syracuse), Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (China), PeepSpace (Tarrytown), Le Petit Versailles (New York City), Culture Lab LIC (New York City), the Hartnett Gallery at the University of Rochester, and the Torpedo Factory Arts Center (Alexandria).

In addition to their visual arts practice, Chavez is a Curatorial Associate in the Department of Photography at the George Eastman Museum and serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Photographic Education. Prior to joining the Eastman Museum, they taught beginner photography courses at Monroe Community College and the Rochester Institute of Technology, and worked as a Studio Assistant for artists Jack Waters and Peter Cramer and photographer Joshua Rashaad McFadden. Chavez holds an M.F.A. in Photography and Related Media from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a B.S. from SUNY Brockport.

Contact: studio@chavezlouis.com | C.V.

Current & Upcoming

Some Bodies
Roxbury Arts Center, Roxbury, NY
May 24—July 26, 2025

Are You a Friend of Dorothy?
Side Rail Collective, Seattle, WA
June 14—July 24, 2025

Queer Conscience 2025
The Image Flow Photography Center, San Anselmo, CA
June 14—September 12, 2025

69th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
June 28—October 5, 2025

Recent

Der Greif 17: One Day Soon — Guest edited by Torbjørn Rødland

Light Work: According to the Laws of Chance

The Real Photo Show with Michael Chovan-Dalton

Void: Impromptu Photobook Workshop