Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy

The opening image on the title wall of the Briscoe’s special exhibition Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy is a large-format black and white image that both captures the stillness and beauty of the landscape and the rapid motion of moving cattle through the terrain.


The almost 60 images contained in the exhibition allow the viewer to peer into the world of the vaquero not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. Focused around the daily lives of the vaqueros and vaqueras of Sonora, Mexico, and captured over a span of more than 20 years, this exhibition brings together captivating photographs of how they view themselves, surrounded by the tools of their trade. Family, religion, tradition, culture, work, and animals are all keystones to this beautiful exhibition and reflect a legacy that reaches back generations, showcasing the birthplace of the modern cowboy.


Complementing the beauty of the photographs, the exhibition also contains three videos that document a grittier view of the region and the photographer’s process. Adding context to the work, the three videos are each about half an hour in length and feature music specifically written for this project by Leo Lopez. A gorgeous catalog with hundreds of images not contained in the exhibit is also available in the Museum Store.