América Ibérica
“America Ibérica”, is a video installation designed for the Instuto Cervantes Lisboa that includes two immersive video installations: American Latinos 1935-1945 and Luso Americanos 1940-1942, with more than 350 images of historical images of the Hispanic and Portuguese imprint in the United States.
The installation will premiere at Instituto Cervantes Lisbon in November 2025.
All images courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
American Latinos 1935-1945
“American Latinos 1935-1945”, is a multimedia project that includes an immersive video installation with more than 250 images of Hispanic-Americans, captured almost a century ago by some of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.
The installation premiered at Instituto Cervantes New York on May 16th, 2024.
All images courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
“American Latinos 1935-1945″ is the result of three years of research, reviewing over 30,000 images from the Library of Congress that were captured all over the United States by some of the most influential photographers in American history: Dorothea Lange, Jack Delano, Russell Lee, John Collier Jr., Marion Post Wolcott, Arthur Rothstein, Edwin Rosskam, and Marjory Collins—to name a few.
This itinerant project includes an immersive video installation, a lecture, and an exhibit of monumental prints.
Praise for “American Latinos 1935-1945”
“This is one of the first major projects to focus on the pictures of Latinos in this collection.”
Adam Silvia, Curator Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
“Alberto Ferreras has compiled more than 200 images, many never before published or rarely seen, documenting the visual history of American Latinos in this country from WPA photos held by the Library of Congress. Ferreras tells a powerful story, narrated by Olga Merediz. Grateful and honored I could see it this week. Go see it too!”
Brett Zongker, Chief of Media Relations, Library of Congress.
“Beautifully curated, written and narrated. A must see for those interested in American History”
Caridad de la Luz, Executive Director, Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
“A powerful immersive video installation. I will keep spreading the word, so this exhibit continues gaining momentum and telling more of our American Latino history.”
Yvette Peña, VP of Latino Audience Strategy AARP.
VIEW: Interview with Alberto Ferreras – City University of New York.
VIEW: Exhibit American Latinos in New York City. RTVE – Spain
VIEW: Latino portraits by the greatest photographers of the 20th century. – La Nacion – Argentina.
VIEW: American Latinos 1935-1845 at Instituto Cervantes. La Guia Cultural – USA
“Mexican cotton picker” by Dorothea Lange. California 1936.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress – Prints & Photographs Division
“Spanish American students” by John Collier Jr., New Mexico, 1943.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress – Prints & Photographs Division
“Spanish is the language spoken at the children’s homes” by John Collier Jr, New Mexico 1943.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress – Prints & Photographs Division
“Ox cart driver” by Jack Delano. Puerto Rico, 1943.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress – Prints & Photographs Division
Somos
“Somos” (We Are) is the first video installation commissioned by the National Museum of the American Latino. On its first week it inspired over 6 million dollars in donations for the institution.
“Somos” explores the diversity and complexity of the Latino identity in the United States, and it was on display at the National Museum of American History, in the Molina Gallery, at 1300 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC (2022-2025).
“Somos” includes 150 portraits of US Latinos #shotoniphone.
“Somos” is a 15-minute video installation, produced between 2019 and 2021, featuring interviews with 19 Hispanic participants who share diverse perspectives on Latino identity. The work premiered on June 18, 2022, at the opening of the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
The installation was immediately praised by individuals and institutions alike. As Pepe Estrada, Director of Constituent Relations for Walmart, noted:
“The gallery includes an eye-opening new project titled ‘Somos,’ named for the Spanish verb ‘we are,’ which captures the rich diversity of the Latinx experience, from unique immigration stories to the different races, identities, and nationalities that make up the community.”
Opening night was marked by welcoming remarks from First Lady Jill Biden.
“Somos” was the sixth of sixteen sections of ¡Presente! (2022–2025), the opening exhibition of the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. The installation showcased 150 portraits of Latinos of diverse colors and ancestries, all #ShotOniPhone.
