Laura Aguilar Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection of papers consists mainly of printed material, photos and photocopied journal articles pertaining to the work of photographer Laura Aguilar. Included are catalogs, flyers, mailers, and correspondence from the various exhibitions she participated in.
Dates
- Creation: 1986 - 2010
Creator
- Aguilar, Laura, 1959- (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials are mostly in English. Some materials are in Spanish and German.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. To request to see the collection, please fill out an archival research application at http://chicano.ucla.edu/archival-research-application. Please note, two weeks notice is required.
Conditions Governing Use
These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of materials, including but not limited to infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
Biography
Laura Aguilar (1959-2018) was an American photographer born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She attended the photography program at East Los Angeles Community College and continued her studies with The Friends of Photography Workshop and Santa Fe Photographic Workshop. Between 1993 and 2005, she was included in more than fifty exhibitions. Her work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennial, Italy; the Los Angeles City Hall Bridge Gallery, the Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), Los Angeles Photography Center, Women's Center Gallery at the University of California in Santa Barbara, Self Help Graphics, all in CA; and the University of Illinois in Chicago, IL. She was an Artist in Residence at Light Works in Syracuse, NY in 1993; received a Brody Grant from the California Community Foundation in 1992; received an Artist in Residence grant from the California Arts Council through the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Los Angeles in 1991/92; and an Artist's Project Grant from LACE in that same year. Aguilar died on April 25, 2018 in Long Beach, California.
Extent
4.17 Linear Feet (10 boxes)
Abstract
The Aguilar Papers include the personal and professional materials of Laura Aguilar. The collection traces through correspondence with mentors and friends as well as Aguilar's artistic development. Her professional achievements are detailed in the numerous flyers, mailers, correspondence and catalogs of exhibitions she contributed to. Active circa 1990s through the mid 2000s, her work addressed topics of the body, disability and queerness, reflecting on her positionality embodying a "large vessel" moving through a "compact societ[y]".
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged in the following series and folders are mostly in alphabetical order:
Physical Location
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Library for more information. Email: librarian@chicano.ucla.edu or 310-206-6052.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Laura Aguilar, 2005. The deed of gift is on file at the CSRC.
Processing Information
In 2025 the collection was reprocessed and the photographs have been removed. Requests regarding the photographs can be directed to Laura Aguilar's estate. Processed by Nathalie Escobedo under the supervision of Krystell Jimenez, 2025.
Subject
- Aguilar, Laura, 1959- -- Archives (Person)
Cultural context
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Laura Aguilar Papers, 1986-2010
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Xaviera Flores and Zaira Bernal. Finding aid updated by Nathalie Escobedo.
- Date
- 2019 December 9
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- November 2025: The finding aid was revised reflect new arrangement.
Repository Details
Part of the Chicano Studies Research Center Library Repository
144 Haines Hall
Box 951544
Los Angeles California 90095-1544 United States
(310) 206-6052
(310) 206-1784 (Fax)
librarian@chicano.ucla.edu