As part of the column ‘Women by Women: A Shared Vision,’ created to expand and develop the theme chosen for our Global open call, we had a conversation with Karla Guerrero, founder of femgrafía, an online platform giving visibility to photographers who can submit their portfolios and be part of the digital archive INDEX: portfolio-archive. In addition, femgrafía curates online exhibitions in collaboration with women curators and organizations, and also offers portfolio reviews. In this interview, Karla discusses the importance of listening to and guiding artists, as well as fostering connections among women working across different areas of the creative field. Curators, writers, and artists alike can find a space to experiment, discover new references, and expand both their practices and their understanding.
How did your project come to life?
While pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication and specialising in photography, I realised how underrepresented women were in the academic and professional fields, despite equal numbers in the classroom. In 2018, as I began presenting my work, I found inspiration in platforms and in contests that highlighted the female gaze, which motivated me to search for more. At the same time, I was collaborating with different magazines and platforms–writing articles and interviewing artists–while working as an assistant in a local photography gallery. It was there that I began to wonder: What are the possibilities for women in this industry? That question led me to explore multiple roles–not only as photographers, but also as curators, editors, and educators.
Eventually, my personal journey prompted me to create a space for women to share, grow, and build community in the industry– not only to give visibility, but also recognition. A place to bring together portfolios from different trajectories, to celebrate them, to be inspired, and to open room for authentic stories. A space for photographers, and also for curators, editors, and professionals working across the photographic field. With that in mind, I founded femgrafía, a platform for women photographers in Latin America and Spain. What began as an online community on Instagram soon expanded into online exhibitions, blog publications, and collaborations. In parallel, I pursued formal studies with a Master’s in Social Development in Artistic Culture, seminars in photography production, cultural management, and curatorial practice–knowledge I have continually applied to strengthen femgrafía.
Today, I see femgrafía as a growing extension of my own journey, driven by the belief that the more we learn and share, the stronger and more inclusive our communities become.
How does femgrafía work, and how is it structured?
From the beginning, femgrafía was conceived as an online platform with a different approach to the digital world. Over six years, it has grown through various projects and content. The platform primarily operates through a submission form or by invitations after portfolio review, as is the case with INDEX: portfolio-archive, one of its main sections. Unlike traditional portfolio publications that appear only once, INDEX allows audiences to revisit authors and their work across different posts and contexts, making it an ongoing and living archive. The second pillar of the platform is the curation of online exhibitions–both collective and solo– often in collaboration with emerging women curators and platforms. These exhibitions give photographers new ways to present their work, accompanied by curatorial writing, editing, and dissemination. In addition, femgrafía collaborates with festivals, grants, open calls, and brands as a media partner, developing proposals that serve our community while fostering shared goals and connections.
What would you like to see more of in your region for women working in the creative field?
I would love to see more inclusivity in educational activities, expanding artistic references and experimenting with other media as tools for collective learning. This was part of my intention with INDEX and its recent photobook format, which I will talk about later. The goal is to offer women new references, themes, stories, and materials that strengthen their practice with confidence and access to resources. In fact, I noticed this need through initiatives focused on diverse education, such as the online platform “Rosa Chillante: feminist experimental laboratory”, led by the incredible photographers Carol Espíndola and Greta Rico (both INDEX members). Their work in creating specialized programs for women is a powerful example of expanding feminist creation.
On the other hand, as I developed my curatorial practice, I realized how limited the opportunities are for women curators. Yet, these challenges also underline the importance of finding spaces to present exhibitions and collections of women photographers–spaces that can offer new and necessary perspectives within the local scene.
How do you select the photographers you feature?
Everything begins with what is established in the submission form. At femgrafía, we are open to all themes, techniques, and formats with a photographic base, and to all the trajectories– whether amateur, emerging, or professional. Featuring work from different generations allows for a more open dialogue and stronger sense of community. We have worked with young and mature photographers, and the exchange has shown that everyone can learn from one another. I think this is our way to create a more conscious content.
As the founder of femgrafía, and also as a mentor and advisor to artists, I believe working with a photographer is about recognising their commitment–the effort and dedication they put into their practice. This is crucial for offering support, since it’s not only about talent or personal statements, but also about the vision and purpose behind their work. For this reason, with every portfolio submission I go beyond the images, taking time to read the bios, visit websites, and understand the artist’s broader context.
Finally, the selection process is aligned with the curatorial lines that have guided the platform from the beginning: images that are strong and well-executed, real stories, experimental formats, and unique perspectives that expand the field of photography.
What are your hopes for femgrafía, and how would you like to see it grow and expand?
In 2023, femgrafía evolved into an online gallery, presenting more than 20 solo exhibitions and over 30 group shows. My vision is to keep discovering women photographers and offering them spaces that not only showcase their work but also accompany them in exploring new ways of presenting it.
In 2022 - 2023, we also launched an online artist residency and workshops, that I hope to resume soon, this time with a stronger focus on the gallery format.
The collaborative spirit remains central to femgrafía, and I aim to expand our reach by building bridges with more festivals, organisations, and emerging projects, creating wider opportunities for women’s voices in photography.
What upcoming project are you currently working on?
After many years of curating online exhibitions, in early March we held our first in-person collective exhibition, presenting “INDEX: Liberando el archivo”, which brought together the work of 60 women photographers. The exhibition took place at the Centro Nacional de las Artes (CENART), one of Mexico’s most important art institutions. Simultaneously, we launched a photobook of the show as a collective publication, co-edited with the independent feminist publisher Miau Ediciones, directed by Andrea García. This publication is especially meaningful because it materialised the effort of bringing together the work of so many incredible photographers, while also allowing us to experiment with alternative printing techniques such as risography. Currently, I have been promoting the photobook and donating some copies to libraries and cultural centres to make it accessible to the public. Curating both the exhibition and the publication has been an enriching journey, and I hope to create a second collective publication. While femgrafía operates online, I see in-person and physical projects not as limitation, but as a complementary and far-reaching extension of the platform’s work.
Since everything we do at PhotoVogue is rooted in empowerment and collaboration with organisations that share our values, is there a women-focused initiative or group you’d like to spotlight or give a shout-out to?
With pleasure,
Foto Féminas by Verónica Sanchis.
Fotógrafas del Norte by Velia Rocío de la Cruz.
Miau Ediciones by Andrea García
Fotofuturo Lab by Lucía Vázquez
Rosa Chillante by Carol Espíndola and Greta Rico
Solipsis Art with Yinna Higuera, Karla Martínez, Ximena Troya, Jessica Sarabia
