William Riera
William Riera (Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 1967) is a visual storyteller based in Miami, Florida, where he has resided since 1995. After graduating with the highest honors in Software Systems Engineering from Havana’s Technological University (CUJAE) in 1990, he transitioned to a career as a professional Software Analyst and Developer for the Miami-Dade County IT Department in 1998, he has since dedicated himself to this role.
Around the turn of the millennium, Riera discovered his true passion in life: photography and image-making. He honed his craft through studies in black-and-white analog photography at Miami-Dade College. He furthered his skills with a professional photography course at the New York Institute of Photography. Continuously seeking to refine his artistry, he has participated in various workshops and certificate programs about art criticism, image theory, and other subjects at the Página en Blando Photography School in Mexico City, under the tutelage of esteemed critic, essayist, and curator of Cuban origin, Juan Antonio Molina Cuesta. In 2022, Riera achieved another milestone by completing his Master’s Degree in Modern and Contemporary Art with top qualifications from the renowned Casa LAMM Cultural Center in Mexico City. His photographic works have garnered recognition through exhibitions in both solo and group showcases across several cities in the USA, Mexico, and Spain.
Since 2015, Riera has been actively engaged in cultural promotion, organizing numerous exhibitions in the vibrant city of Miami. In 2020, he founded the virtual platform South Florida Latin American Photography Forum (SoFLaFoto), through which he tirelessly champions Latin American and Latinx photography, featuring works by artists residing in both the US and Latin America.
Website: https://www.williamrieraphotography.com
Instagram: @wrieraphoto
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Artist Statement
“From the outset, one of the most essential things I would like people to know is that I have developed a profound and deeply personal connection with the photographic camera. Photography has become an integral part of my life, a medium through which I engage in a near-daily practice of visual exploration and creation. My journey began around the year 2000, when I took college courses in graphic design. It wasn't long before I realized that photography offered the most effective and fulfilling way for me to communicate creatively with the world.
While I excelled in both humanities and sciences during my high school years, I ultimately chose to pursue a career in technology, graduating with the highest honors as a Software Systems Engineer. This profession remains a rewarding aspect of my life today. However, my desire to embrace a creative outlet never faded. I feel fortunate to have discovered my true passion in photography—a discipline that allows me to explore the world as both an artist and an observer of human experiences.
As a photographer, I aim to capture the full spectrum of human existence by visually interpreting fleeting moments within the larger, dynamic conditions of life. My work delves into the interplay between form and content, light and shadow, evoking questions that are often more significant than the answers. Through my images, I strive to not only reflect the complexity of those moments but to create a dialogue that speaks to the emotional and philosophical layers beneath them.”
Urban Shrines: Religious Offerings in Miami’s Metropolitan Landscape (2015-2020)
In the summer of 1978, the Miami Herald published a short article titled “Neighbors Irate Over Family’s Shrine,” documenting the concerns of non-Latino residents of a South Miami neighborhood. These residents expressed fear that a Cuban family's garden altar might devalue property in the area. This event brought attention to the sociocultural shifts occurring in Miami’s urban landscape, largely driven by Cuban immigration.
Initially concentrated in predominantly Latin neighborhoods like Little Havana and Hialeah, these transformations have since spread across Miami-Dade County. As Miami evolved into a unique cultural amalgam—where individuals from around the globe participate in a rich exchange of traditions—the city became a reflection of global diversity. Expressions of faith and religious practices, once confined to Cuban households, have become more widespread across Latin American families. Of particular significance is the cult of Santa Bárbara (Saint Barbara) and San Lázaro (Saint Lazarus), two Catholic saints who are syncretized in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería with Changó and Babalú Ayé from the Yoruba tradition.
This photographic series, produced between 2015 and 2020, seeks to go beyond merely documenting the transformation of the urban landscape due to migration. Through these images, I aim to foster a dialogue about the historical layers of migration and religion, showing how these visual representations excavate the origins of their subjects. These intimate glimpses into the intersections of migration and faith reflect society’s broader views on the persistent entanglements of religion, economics, and movement.
