First Self Portrait, 2011
Guadalajara Jalisco, México.
Biography
Mexican-Caribbean photographer Jimena Horta Ballesteros gained her Bachelors in Communication and Filmmaking from the Universidad Anáhuac, along with a Masters Program in Photography and Artistic Projects from PhotoEspaña. She is an alumna of renowned Pulitzer Finalist Maggie Steber, Pulitzer Winner Michael Robinson Chávez, and Guggenheim Fellow Award Recipient Sara Terry. In 2021, her project SÍIHIL was selected to take part in the Foundry International Photojournalism Program, as one of the six photographers selected in Latin America and Spain. That body of work has been shown in four countries, and has been a finalist in several international grants. She is a member of international organizations in the photographic field: Diversify Photo, Foundry, VII Community and recently joined The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Her work has recently been part of the exhibition Kili’ich Chuuyo’ob | Bordado Maya Ritual by the Great Museum of The Mayan World in Mérida Yucatán, México. Her photographic work has been exhibited and made part of private collections in México, Spain, Chile, the United States and Canada.
Jimena moved to the Cleveland area in 2021 where she continues her intimate, diaristic and layered work. Her photographic practice focuses on details of daily life, often with an emotional substance, through an organic and impromptu approach which allows her to be present through her photography. Her work comprises largely of meditative scenes that can be viewed as self-portraits and invites us to slow down and contemplate the image, the world around us, and ourselves.
2025: De-colonial and Ancestral Wisdom: Dra. Rocío Rosales Meza (Psych PhD) - (Online)
2024: Specialization in Therapeutic and Participatory Photography: Instituto 8 - (Online)
2023: Grant Writing Workshop with Sara Terry: VII Academy - (Online)
2022: Sem[a]nario de Fotografía: Alberto Báez Munguía - (Online)
2022: Horizontes Poéticos: La Hoja Poesía Viva - (Online)
2021: Photojournalism Workshop: Foundry - (Online)
2020: Photographic and Writing Lab: Artist Elizabeth Casasola - (Online)
2020: Creative Writing Workshop: Malvestida! - (Online)
2019: Specialization in Photography, Theories and Artistic Projects: PhotoEspaña - (Madrid, Spain)
2018: Professional Photography Course: EFTI - (Madrid, Spain)
2017: Photojournalism Workshop: Foundry - (Mexico City)
2017: Specialization in Filmmaking: Universidad Anáhuac México Norte - (Mexico City)
2017: Bachelors Degree in Communication: Universidad Anáhuac Mayab - (Mérida, Yucatán, MX)
2016: Heart of Mexico Narrative Journalism Immersion: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM)
& University of North Texas (UNT) - (Izamal, Yucatán, MX)
2012: Visual Arts: Universidad de Guadalajara (UDG) - (Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX)
Group Exhibitions
2025: Kili’ich Chuuyo’ob | Bordado Maya Ritual (Mérida, Yucatán, México)
2023: Leila's Dirty 30 POPUP (Cleveland, Ohio)
2020: Revelaciones (Santiago, Chile)
2020: Encuentros en Tiempo Presente (Madrid, Spain)
2019: Simbiosis (Mexico City)
2018: Hypermnesia (Mexico City)
2017: X’manikté (Mérida, MX)
2014: Paradojas (Mérida, MX)
2013: Fantasmas Urbanos (Mérida, MX)
Solo Exhibitions
2024: SÍIHIL (Mexico City, MX)
2023: SÍIHIL (Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH)
2023: SÍIHIL (Cleveland Print Room, Cleveland, OH)
2021: SÍIHIL (Museo de la Isla, Cozumel, MX)
2016: Cuba: El Último Encuentro (Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Mexico City)