Mauricio Palos  (born 1981 San Luis Potosí, Mexico) 

I originally started photographing at a local newspaper in hy hometown, San Luis Potosi in the Bajio region of Mexico. That experience gave me another perspective on my city which led me to finding interest and understanding of the Central Americans that were crossing the city on route to the US. This whole experience became my first book, published with Editorial RM in late 2010 called My Perro Rano, Cronicas de Centroamerica, where I traveled constantly between Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and the southern border of Mexico.

Over time I have focused on documenting and telling stories related to human rights, migration, historical memory and conflicts related to the territory. My stories often are published in book formats, journals, walls and video installations, but in the last few years my interest is moving slowly towards documentary cinema and farming.

Member of the National System of Art Creators of Mexico 2019-2021. My work has been exhibited collectively at various international festivals, including Photoespaña and Fotofestival Knnoke in Heist, Belgium, as well as Images singulières in Sète, France and the Bronx Documentary Center New York.

I have also done research, reported and produced stories for international media outlets such as Bloomberg, AP, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, Getty Images, Flaunt Magazine, Gatopardo, Terra Mater, Roads and Kingdoms, Colors Magazine, Der Spiegel, Pie de Pagina among others.

My latest book, Is This Tomorrow, published by Casa del Ahuizote in 2019 was Shorlisted in Arles, Les Recontres de la Photograhie, Prix Photo Text , 2019.

Film work

2018 - El Sabedor, 10,39 min, Color digital 


2017 – La Ley del Monte, 15:13 min, Color digital


2015 - State of Censorship, Interactive web-doc film


2010 - En Algún Lugar, 28 min, Color mini DV


Selected Exhibitions

2019 - Is This Tomorrow, NOUVELLES ÉCRITURES DOCUMENTAIRES. Images Singulières. Sète, France.  29 May - 16 June. -collective-

2018 - Fotofria. Centro de la Imagen. Mexico -collective-

2018 - Attacks on the Press: Mexico. Bronx Documentary Center. NY, USA -collective-

2018 - Attacks on the Press: Mexico. Photoville, NY. USA -collective-

2018 - La Ley del Monte. Centro Fotografico Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Oaxaca -solo show-

2017– La Ley del Monte. Centro de la Imagen. México. -solo show-

2017 – Post Barbarie. Museo de Arte Contemporaneo. San Luis Potosi, Mexico - solo show-

2016- Mexico Megalopolis. Fotofestival Knnoke Heist. Belgica -collective-

2015 - 365 por los 43: Hasta las paredes saben, Casa del Hijo del Ahuizote. Mexico City, Mexico -collective-

2015 - Aquí nos vemos. Fotografía en América Latina 2000-2015. Centro Cultural Kirchner. Buenos Aires, Argentina. -collective-

2015 - Develar y detonar. Fotografía en México, ca. 2015. Centro Cibeles. Madrid, Spain. -collective-

2015 - The New Photojournalism, VICE Photo Annual Exhibition, Phi Centre. Montreal, Canada -collective-

2014 - Miradas, Mexican Contemporary Photographers, Bronx Documentary Center, Bronx, NY -collective-

2014 – Acciones Territoriales, Ex Teresa Arte Actual. Mexico DF. -collective-

2013 - Umbrales 1.5: fotografía mexicana. [CdF] Fotogalería Prado. Montevideo, Uruguay. -collective-

2011 – Peso y Levedad. Instituto Cervantes. Photoespaña. Madrid, España. -collective-

2011 – Museos Modernidad en Transito. Museo de America. Madrid, España. -collective-

2011 – Laberinto de Miradas. Tabacalera. Madrid, España. -collective-

2010 – “3 Color, Fotografía Mexicana Contemporánea” 320° Art, Cultural, Educational and Technical Center, Siofók, Hungría. -collective-


Selected Awards

2019 - Is This Tomorrow, shortlisted at Arles 2019 Book Award. Arles, Le Recontres de la photographie. Francia

2018 - Sistema Nacional de Creadores. Fonca, Conaculta. Mexico

2017– Foto Fria. Arts and HumanitiesResearch Council (AHRC) of the United Kingdom. UK

2016- Honorable mention. XIV Photography Biennal. Centro de la Imagen. Mexico City, Mexico

2016 - State photography award SECULT. San Luis Potosí. SLP, Mexico

2013 - Young Creators Grant, Fonca, Conaculta. Mexico

2010 – Mencion de honor. XIV Photography Biennal. Centro de la Imagen. Mexico City, Mexico

2010 - Portfolio review and exhibition selected for Trasatlantica, Photoespaña. Madrid, Spain

2010 - Honorable mention. Cultural journalism award Fernando Benitez FIL. Guadalajara, Mexico

2010 - IIE Grant, Ford Foundation. Mexico - USA.


Selected Publications

2018 - Is This Tomorrow. Casa del Ahuizote. Mexico

2016– La Familia Hernandez de Guerrero y Queens. Newsprint. Mexico

2014 - Shallow Graves, Empty Stretch Press. USA

2013 - Legal Aliens, Straylight Press, Canada

2011 - Peso y Levedad, exhibition catalogue at Photoespaña, La Fabrica, España

2010 - My Perro Rano: Crónicas de Centroamérica, Editorial RM, Mexico / Barcelona