Xavier Tavera has spent the past three decades documenting the stories of the Latin American diaspora in the United States. His practice moves fluidly between social engagement and documentary photography, creating images that reframe the myths and imaginaries shaping the Americas.

Tavera’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries and museums across Germany, Scotland, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, and China. His pieces are held in major collections, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Plains Art Museum, Minnesota Museum of American Art, Weisman Art Museum, and the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Since 2020, Tavera has served as Assistant Professor of Art at Carleton College. He holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and has received numerous honors, including the Minnesota State Arts Board Legacy Grant and fellowships from the McKnight, Jerome, and Bronica foundations. Tavera is based in Minneapolis and hails from Mexico City, where he maintains deep connections as an artist.