NC Hernández is a Chicano writer and photographer from southern California who lives and works in Mexico City. He holds an MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco, is a recipient of the AWP Intro Journals Award for nonfiction, and is currently writing a book about subtropical style and culture in Mexico City. He is the winner of the 2024 Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Award, has published photos and essays in outlets like The Passenger and The Guardian, and has worked as a behaviorist for children with autism, an international touring musician, and an immigrant rights activist who led the first visitation program in California for federally imprisoned immigrants. Hernández writes essays about violence, politics, culture, music, and classic menswear.
His photographs were recently exhibited at the No Se Vende show in the Centro Histórico during the Mexico City Art Week, in New York City at Clamp Gallery for the Feature Shoot award, and in the National Gallery at the Palace of Sofia, Bulgaria for the 13th PHODAR Biennial. His recent work focuses on portraiture of underground burlesque and cabaret performers in CDMX. Hernández uses antique cameras and processes, from 35mm to large format, hand-processing all film and prints, often utilizing alternative printing processes.
Education:
MFA in Writing, University of San Francisco.
BA in Latin American Studies, University of San Francisco
Publications:
2024 The Guardian, “Rising stars: winners of the Feature Shoot Emerging
Photography Awards – in pictures,” by Sarah Gilbert. Aug. 28th.
2024 “Dispulque, ¿qué va a tomar?,” Pretty Obscure, Far West Press, Hudson,
NY
2022 “Ballot Box Blues: The Indirect Road to Direct Democracy,”
The Passenger, Iperborea Press, in Italian February 2022, in English July
2022
2022 “Economic Inequality is Chained to Mass Incarceration,” “Green
American Magazine,” co-written with editor Mary Meade, Washington
DC
2021 “Why Sing Along When You Can Sing Alone?,” “Ugly Things Magazine,”
#58, Fall 2021, La Mesa, CA
2021 “Violence in the Calm,” The Knot Wound Round Your Finger, Bell Press
Anthologies, Canada
2021 “The Loneliest One,” Puerto Del Sol,” New Mexico, USA
2015 “A Straight Line Has Many Curves,” photos and words, “Divisadero
Magazine,” San Francisco, CA
Photography Exhibitions:
2025. Rose Salvaje: Dramazonica, Festival of Latin American Burlesque, Mexico
City
2025. Rituals International group exhibition by Loosenart, Galeria Millepiani,
Rome
2025 Underground Gallery, Isle of Portland, UK
2025 13th PHODAR Biennial, Sofia, Bulgaria
2025 Color group show, Decode Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2025 Iconic Women group show, Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville, KY
2024 Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Award, Clamp Art Gallery, New
York City
2024 Galeria No Se Vende, Casa Mimi, Mexico City Art Week
Awards:
2024 Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Award
2021 “Violence in the Calm,” Pushcart nominated.
2021 “The Loneliest One,” Winner of the AWP Intro Journals Project.