Wilder Marroquin

Born in Guatemala, Spanish was my first language, and Latino culture shaped the foundation of my personality. Migrating to Los Angeles at the age of twelve marked my first real expansion of cultural awareness and belonging. Living within a predominantly Latino community, I was immersed in a wide range of cultures—some closely familiar, others vastly different. This shift, combined with the challenge of a new language, became the starting point of my visual world.

As I encountered new cultures, styles, and behaviors, I began selectively absorbing elements that resonated with me, forming a visual language of my own. This process is what initially shaped my style. I began painting and drawing as a way to translate ideas from my mind onto paper, and soon my life became surrounded by art. I explored graffiti as another form of expression, but quickly realized it wasn’t the illegal aspect that drew me in—it was the act of expression itself.

Painting soon became my primary medium, and I was eventually accepted into the USC School of Art, where my practice expanded further. I began experimenting with sculpture and unfamiliar forms of drawing and painting, pushing my work beyond something meant only to be viewed and toward something meant to be experienced. While at USC, I transitioned into graphic design, where my work became cleaner and more commercial in nature. However, I noticed that my strongest design work consistently gravitated toward the imagery within it.

That realization led me to photography—initially as a tool to create the exact visuals I needed to express my creative direction. After graduating, I worked closely with a top photographer, an experience that deeply enriched my understanding of the medium. Shortly after, I went freelance and began creating my own work. During this time, I collaborated with a wide range of photographers and art directors who continue to influence my work today. I often think of this period as my true master’s degree.

Today, my work draws from a multitude of influences and exists between lifestyle and commercial photography. I describe it as Curated Lifestyle Photography—not purely photojournalistic and not traditionally commercial. Instead, it lives in a heightened space where lifestyle is refined and amplified to express its most compelling form. The bold color and lighting contrasts from my painting days continue to resonate throughout my work, with lighting now serving as my brush and graphic design principles framing the talent within each image.