Marcos Mena Cruz on October 16, 2024
Peggy is proud to feature the works of Sandra Blow in its Pushing Boundaries auction, offering collectors a unique opportunity to acquire pieces by this emerging photographer based in Mexico City. Blow's sincere and artistically brilliant documentation of the city's growing underground LGBTQ+ scene has garnered significant attention in the art world. Her evocative series on Mexico's queer subculture has recently been recognized by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), marking a pivotal moment in her rising career and providing context for the significance of the works available in this auction.
Blow's groundbreaking series on Mexico's queer subculture has recently been acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for their permanent collection. This work is set to be featured in the highly anticipated "New Photography 2025" exhibition opening in September next year. The exhibition, titled "Lines of Belonging," marks the 40th anniversary of MoMA's New Photography series and brings together 13 artists and collectives who explore sites of belonging and forms of interconnectedness.
Blow's journey into photography began through her studies in advertising at Centro Universitario de Marketing y Publicidad in Mexico. This background is reflected in her works, which show a clear element of editorial inspiration from the fashion industry. The fusion of Blow's advertising background with her immersion in the queer community creates a distinctive visual language. She draws inspiration from editorial and magazine content, reimagining these polished aesthetics within the context of queer experiences. Using her friends as models and muses, Blow creates images that are both intimate and community-oriented.
What sets Blow apart is her active participation in the events she documents – she's not just an observer, but a supporter and member of the community she captures. This dual role allows for a level of trust and authenticity rarely seen in documentary photography. Blow's versatility is evident in her use of both analog and digital cameras, allowing her to adapt her technique to the mood and setting of each shoot. She often works in challenging conditions, pushing her equipment to its limits to capture the energy and essence of the scenes she photographs.
Blow's work has gained recognition in prestigious venues such as Zona MACO Mexico, where she was represented by Salon Silicon, a gallery known for its exclusive representation of women and LGBTQ+ artists. This partnership underscores the importance of her work in promoting visibility and representation for marginalized communities. In comparison to iconic photographers like Brian Aris, who documented rock stars and celebrities, Sandra Blow is carving out a new niche. She's creating icons within a community that has been historically underrepresented, giving visibility and glamor to individuals often marginalized by mainstream media.
Two of Blow's notable works exemplify her unique approach and style. "Yin Yang," taken at the Discoteca club, features Paco Santander, a well-known drag queen from Mexico City, posing with a club attendee who was passing by at the time. This photo captures the spontaneous connections and complicity that Blow often documents in her work.
Another piece, "5tos," is a semi-portrait of the drag queen "Quintos" dressed in full glamor and regalia, freezing her in a moment in time. This work showcases Sandra's love for photographing jewelry and accessories, further emphasizing her editorial magazine influence while immortalizing a member of her community.
Blow's inclusion in the MoMA exhibition underscores the global significance of her work and represents the shift towards including perspectives from the Global South in major art institutions. It places her within a context of artists who are reimagining the idea of the archive to disrupt narratives of the past and imagine future communities. As artist Sabelo Mlangeni states in relation to the exhibition, "Love is the key that takes cultures from oppression to joy. As a political unifier, the contract—love—takes on a liberating force." This sentiment resonates deeply with Blow's work, which celebrates love and community in the face of societal challenges.
The Pushing Boundaries auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to acquire pieces from this soon-to-be-iconic series. This unique chance to own a part of photographic history offers works that will not only be featured in one of the world's most renowned museums but also continue to challenge, inspire, and redefine our understanding of identity and representation in the 21st century.
While Sandra Blow's work will be exhibited at MoMA, the auction is independent of MoMA and not a partnership with the museum.
