Sophie Rivera
American, 1938-2021
Untitled [Sun-catcher], from Men at Work, c. 1985
Silver gelatin print

Revitalizing the urban landscape in New York City with a fresh coat of paint is an essential task, and no small feat. Sophie Rivera sees the importance and beauty of this man’s work and captures it with a snap of the shutter. Large areas of sunlight project onto the wall’s surface. Seizing an opportunity, Rivera harnesses the light to inform her composition. The painter’s rod is placed at the bottom of a large sunspot, as if he has just painted it there, or is trying to capture the light itself in his task.

Rivera’s photography reflected the Latino working class of New York with an artistic vision which challenged prevailing categorization. Her practice expanded traditional approaches to representation and portraiture. Rivera’s portraits convey trust and authenticity; people and their work are celebrated for their inherent beauty and humanity.