William Camargo is a photo-based artist, educator, and advocate for documenting underrepresented histories. Born and raised in Anaheim, California, Camargo draws deeply from his Chicanx/Latinx identity and personal experiences to challenge dominant narratives and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. He holds an M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University, a B.F.A. from California State University Fullerton, and an A.A. from Fullerton Community College.

Currently a photography lecturer at the University of California San Diego and California State University Fullerton, Camargo is also the founder and curator of Latinx Diaspora Archives, an Instagram-based archive that preserves and celebrates communities of color through shared family photographs.

His work, spanning photography, installation, public intervention, and archival practices, interrogates themes of gentrification, police violence, and the erasure of Chicanx/Latinx histories. He has held residencies at prestigious institutions such as the Latinx Project at NYU, Light Work in Syracuse, TILT Institute for Contemporary Image in Philadelphia, the Center for Photography at Woodstock, and Penumbra Foundation in NYC.

Camargo's work has been exhibited internationally at the Cheech Center for Chicano Art, Frost Museum of Art, and Princeton Museum of Art. His projects have been featured in prominent publications such as Hyperallergic, Los Angeles Times, and The New Yorker. His work is part of esteemed collections, including the Huntington Library, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

William Camargo’s artistic practice revolves around the intersection of history, memory, and community. Through photography, installation, public interventions, and archives, he sheds light on systemic inequities while celebrating the rich histories of Chicanx/Latinx communities. Camargo’s work counters the erasure of his community’s narratives by using accessible platforms like Instagram to democratize archival preservation. His Latinx Diaspora Archives bridge personal family histories and collective cultural memory, encouraging dialogue about identity, belonging, and resilience.

In his artistic interventions, Camargo critiques pressing issues such as gentrification and police violence while weaving in nuanced explorations of Chicanx/Latinx histories. By situating his work within public and institutional spaces, he challenges viewers to reconsider whose stories are visible and valued in contemporary culture. Through his dedication to artistry and pedagogy, Camargo documents and empowers his community, ensuring that their stories are preserved and celebrated for generations to come.