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BLACK & WHITE GALLERY

     I am drawn to black and white because it brings those elements into focus. Without color, we become more aware of the texture of stone, the shape of a shadow, the expression on a face, or the light reflected on wet pavement. It also brings a sense of timelessness. A photograph can belong to a particular moment while reminding us of something remembered long ago.

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Pondering
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Yosh Nakamura
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RobertoChavez.com © | info@robertochavez.com | (562) 456-5503

Paris | Los Angeles | NYC |   

 USA  | 11803 Beverly Blvd Whittier CA 90601

Roberto Chavez

Official Biography & Portfolio Summary

Roberto Chavez (born José Roberto Chávez Pérez in Monterrey, Nuevo León) is an internationally recognized

commercial, fashion, and fine art photographer, educator, and community leader based in Whittier, California.

His unique visual style is defined by a deep understanding of human anatomy, movement, and dramatic

staging—a direct result of his rich background as a competitive athlete, professional dancer, and champion

cheerleading coach.

Official Websites: www.robertochavez.com | www.562creatives.com

1. Early Artistic & Athletic Foundations

• Aquatic Sports: During his high school and university years, he competed heavily in water polo. This

grueling sport gave him an intrinsic understanding of body mechanics, physical suspension, and teamwork

under pressure.

• Professional Dance: He made his professional artistic debut in the early 1980s as a dancer for the

Sociedad Cuauhtémoc y Famosa (associated with the Cuauhtémoc Brewery). There, he received elite

training under the direction of the prominent Mexican choreographer Miguel Sahagún.

• Musical Revues & Stagecraft: While attending preparatory school at the CEU (Centro de Estudios

Universitarios), his theatrical talents were nurtured by Javier López García (who later became the

distinguished Director of CEU Hidalgo). Performing in major musical revues, Chavez toured extensively

across Mexico, mastering the complexities of stage presence, lighting, and large-scale group

synchronization.

2. Resilience, Law School, and Coaching Legacy

In the mid-1980s, Chavez faced a profound personal tragedy when he lost his mother to cancer. Seeking a

supportive community to navigate his grief, he embedded himself within the youth sports community of San

Nicolás de los Garza.

• The Potros de la Anáhuac Era: Chavez stepped in as the Head Coach for the Potros de la Anáhuac

football and cheerleading club. Applying the choreographic rigor he learned from Sahagún and López

García, he transformed the cheer program into a national powerhouse.

• Championship Record: Under his leadership, the Potros cheer squads won back-to-back Junior Category

Championships at the MFL Cheerleading Festival, placed first in the Senior Category, and captured the

international CA Cheer title. Several of his former athletes went on to represent Mexico at the Pan American

Games, securing a historic silver medal.

• Legal Education: Balancing a demanding coaching schedule with rigorous academics, he completed his

studies to earn his law degree from the Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales (now FACDYC) at the

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL).

3. Emigration to the U.S. and Photographic Career

With his law degree completed and an enduring sports legacy left behind in Monterrey, Chavez chose to move

to the United States to commit his life fully to the visual arts, establishing his roots in Whittier, California.

• Academic Training: He formalized his visual talents by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial,

Fashion, and Fine Art Photography from the elite Art Center College of Design in Pasadena (2002–2005),

later complementing it with a Master’s Degree in Education.

• The 'Stage Eye' Behind the Lens: Chavez's photography is defined by treating every shoot like a

micro-theatrical production. His early days coordinating water polo lines and musical revues allow him to

direct models with an expert eye for spatial harmony and fluid movement.

• International Acclaim: His work has earned recognition from the International Photography Foundation and

accolades at the prestigious Lucie Awards in New York. His high-profile commercial clients include major

global brands such as Jaguar, Tom Ford, Gucci, Nike, Adidas, and Versace.

4. 2026 Global Milestones & Philanthropy

• Maison Européenne de la Photographie (Paris): His fine art portfolio crossed the Atlantic for a highly

celebrated exhibition at the prestigious MEP in France.

• Metro City Art (Florence, Italy): Chavez is scheduled to participate in the prestigious Metro City Art

exhibition in Florence, Italy, on November 28–29, 2026, solidifying his influence in Europe's historic art

centers.

• UNICEF Advocacy: Merging his visual mastery with global social impact, Chavez is submitting his

specialized photographic work to UNICEF for an initiative focusing on Women and Technology, capturing

the intersection of female empowerment and digital evolution through a fine-art lens.

5. Community Leadership and Present Day

Chavez remains heavily active in Southern California's cultural landscape. He operates Roberto Chavez

Photography Studios located at 11803 Beverly Blvd in Whittier, CA, and acts as the lead Art Director for the

creative agency and design firm 562CREATIVES.

Believing firmly in mentorship and civic duty, he has served as the Chairman of the Whittier Cultural Arts

Commission, a board member for the Whittier Historical Society, and shapes the next generation of visual

storytellers as an adjunct professor of photojournalism at Rio Hondo College and Compton College.

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