Meet Gl-o (he/him/they/them) an indigenous two spirit moment maker and published editorial fashion photographer. They moved to San Francisco to pursue their BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art University. Gl-o finds inspiration from the Bay’s history of social movements like that of the Native American Occupation of Alcatraz, Gay Liberation Movement in the Castro, and Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta marching for workers rights. GI-o says, “These moments of time inspire me to want to make an impact here in the Bay Area so that future generations of creatives can thrive.”

They utilize their art practice as a way to tell a story by working with editorial photography, creative writing, installations, while co-running a fashion collective. They describe their work as dramatic, fun and with lots of movement. Gl-o shares that “The medicine I carry is shared through the visuals I manifest.” Their process involves deep introspection, through which they narrow down the aesthetic and the overall feel. They share, “it's all about how to execute it in the real world and through that exercise is how the moment is made.” They emphasize that their work is all about empowerment; they want their models and creative team to leave the project feeling energized and full of wonder and joy. 

Look out for the Day of the Dead Fashion show that Gl-o will be coordinating at the Mission Cultural Center on October 28th, November 2nd and 18th. 

From September 15 to October 15th, Alejandra Rubio guest curated "We The Artists" featuring 5 standout Bay Area Latine artists, highlighting the modern artistic identity and representation.

Feature Published: October 6, 2023
Instagram Feature on @ArtSpanSF