Gabriel S. Lopez is a photographic artist based in his hometown of Echo Park, Los Angeles. When he found his way to photography at the age of 14, Lopez began making portraits of his friends and classmates, later turning to social media as a way to find subjects. He is dedicated to a hands-on approach from start to finish—printing his images in a color darkroom, which allows him full control over the image-making process.

What started as an entertaining hobby has now become a passion for Lopez, offering a way to express and better understand himself. “My work centers around capturing queer black and brown youth within the Los Angeles Area as well as myself in a vulnerable and special light,” he explains. “Intricate composition and color are key components of my work. My goal is to invoke emotions or thoughts when someone is looking at my work.”

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