Collection

Photographer and graphic artist. Méndez studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, graduating in 1966 with a major in graphic arts and photography. In 1976–77 he was the recipient of a New York State CAPS Fellowship, and in 1977 he moved to Puerto Rico. Since then, he has taken part in solo and group shows in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Italy. His subject-matter is varied, almost always centering on human situations. His interest in images of cemeteries, which led to a portfolio series, was strengthened by encouragement from photographer Jack Delano, who inspired him to turn his gaze on subjects that had already been seen by others. His photographs are distinguished, in general, by being exclusively in black and white and using only natural light, by using traditional silver-gelatin development processes, and by being produced with cameras yielding 4 X 5 negatives, which multiply the tonal values.