1780 Village Pl
San Diego, CA 92101
USA
For more than half a century, Bernard Mendoza has captured the beauty and complexity of everyday life through his lens. In Seeing With New Eyes, Bernard shares the evolving perspective of a photographer whose world has become smaller in size—but deeper in meaning. As his physical mobility has slowed, his creative vision has sharpened, drawing him closer to the often-overlooked moments and quiet stories that unfold nearby.
This heartfelt and visually rich presentation will explore how limitations can lead to unexpected inspiration, and how photography remains a powerful medium for storytelling, connection, and reflection. With wisdom shaped by decades of work and recognition from some of the world’s most esteemed institutions, Bernard invites us to slow down, look again, and discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.
About Bernard
For over 55 years, Bernard Mendoza has used photography as his voice—an expressive medium that transcends language and connects people through shared human experience. Growing up in post-World War II England, Bernard dreamed of becoming a writer, inspired by tales of Roy of the Rovers, Biggles, and Rudyard Kipling. However, navigating dyslexia at a time when it was scarcely understood made traditional storytelling difficult. Photography became his way of communicating—his tool for telling meaningful, visual stories that resonate universally.
Bernard’s work is deeply rooted in the belief that life is composed of fleeting sensations and moments of consciousness. His photographs honor the beauty of ordinary existence—capturing people and places not for their fame or spectacle, but for their authenticity and individuality. From Hasidic Jewish communities in New York to revitalized neighborhoods in East Los Angeles, Bernard has chronicled lives with empathy, nuance, and a profound sense of respect.
His work has been exhibited internationally and honored by institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery (UK and Scotland), The Royal Photographic Society, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and Lincoln Center in New York. His photographs are also part of public and private collections including the City of Denver’s Art in Public Places and the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
Bernard is the recipient of numerous awards, including two portraiture grants from the John Kobal Foundation, a fellowship from the Colorado Council on the Arts, and support from Steven Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation. His work has appeared in publications such as the University of Michigan Quarterly Review, the M.I.L.K. book series (Family, Love, and Friendship), and Art Directors Index to Photographers.
Through photographic essays like From Generation to Generation, Veya en Paz, The Projects are Dead, Long Live the Projects, and Benches, Bernard continues to document the world with curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to telling stories that matter.