Resume

NESTOR HERNÁNDEZ (1960-2006) was a Washington, DC-based photographer of Afro-Cuban descent.

He was introduced to photography in high school through the Urban Journalism Workshop of the D.C. Public Schools, and was on the staff of the Capital Children's Museum as photographer-in-residence for fifteen years. Hernández was also staff photographer for the D.C. Public School system for seven years, and is now a freelance documentary photographer.

He was a staff photographer and contributed to many publications, including the Current Newspapers, DC City Desk, the Latin Trade Report, El Pregonero, Brookings Review, The Metro Herald, National Jurist Magazine and The International Review of African American Art.

Nestor's personal projects spanned from his documentation of Mount Pleasant, a neighborhood where he resided, to his photographs of traditional weavers and spinners in West Africa. His photos of Ewe master kente weaver Bobbo Ahiagble of Ghana are featured in the award winning children's book, "Master Weaver from Ghana" published in 1998 by Open Hand Press. He continued his projects in Côte D'Ivoire, Kenya and Mali, photographing traditional spinners and weavers in those countries.

His other major photo-documentary project "Cuba Reflections: A Photographic Journey," was the result of over 18 trips to the island nation since 1978. In 2001 and 2002, his trips to Cuba concentrated on linking US and Cuban photographers through cultural exchange photography projects and exhibitions. In 2003, he directed an extensive collaborative arts project, taking photography and art teachers to the island to work with Cuban children.

Hernández exhibited his photos regularly. His images were included in shows throughout Washington, D.C., in Wilmington Delaware, Springfield Massachusetts, Greensboro North Carolina, Memphis, Tennessee, Havana, Cuba and Accra Ghana, and his photographs were included in the permanent collections of the Casa de Africa museum and Galería de Arte René Portocarrero in Cuba, Asafo Gallery in Ghana, the Cuban Art Space in New York and the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington, D.C.

With Port of Harlem, he developed the "Our Children, Our World" photography exhibit featuring the works of children from Ghana, Cuba, Washington, DC and Gary, Indiana. After a successful run in Washington, DC the exhibit opens in Gary later in 2006, as an official event celebrating Gary's 100th Anniversary.

He was a member and past president of FotoCraft Camera Club, and was the 2001 recipient of the "Photographer of the Year" award, given by the Exposure Group, African American Photographers Association. In 2002 he received the "Outstanding Emerging Artist" award, and in 2003 an Artist Fellowship Grant, both from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

In addition to photography, Hernández had many interests including magic tricks, writing, teaching, traveling and mentoring.

He is survived by his father Nestor Hernandez, Sr. and other family members, who can be reached at nlhernandezdec@aol.com.

TOP OF PAGE