Born and raised in South Texas, Izel Vargas’ work uses the context of the borderlands to examine the ever-changing face of the New South—the region of the U.S. that is quickly becoming more and more international. Vargas examines the negotiation of these spaces in relation to personal and cultural histories, oftentimes with a sense of humor. His work actively searches for spaces of cultural hybridity within communities, trying to locate specific sites of contact where new borderlands exist. These sites are familiar areas of community and commonality for immigrants and exiles alike. Intersections such as these provide a wealth of visual information, and at times, allow Vargas to create a home away from home through his images.

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