About

Mercedes is a portrait photographer, artist, and feminist from the Southwest Side of Chicago.

Her work challenges notions of respectability politics regarding sexuality, gender, and ethnicity through imaginative imagery.

Her photography is abundant in color, luxurious in texture, full of wonder, expressive and memorable.

Zapata aims to expand representation of marginalized communities by celebrating the people in front of her camera in a manner that is authentic to them.

Her work has been seen in Poets & Writers Magazine, NYLON, ESSENCE, Pitchfork, Interview Magazine, Spotify, Bustle, The Lily, Chicago Reader, Chicago Red Eye, and in numerous publications.

self portrait 2023

create.mercedeszapata@gmail.com