Jena Lacomis Garcia - Early Years

Early Years

Lacomis Garcia grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was educated at Evergreen State College, which is situated in Olympia, Washington, home to many alternative and modern artists. Although enrolled as a photography student, Lacomis Garcia also studied film editing and gender studies. She left Philadelphia in 1992 to explore the United States with her camera, and quickly found a home in St. Paul, Minnesota. The opportunity to relocate to Seattle, Washington arose in 1998 and with her camera and extensive photographic experience, she embraced the chance. She was drawn to the creative and liberal minds of the lush natural arena that embraced The Evergreen State College, and found herself completing an undergraduate degree soon after her arrival to Seattle.

Drawn to the history of the New York City publishing world, Lacomis Garcia applied for an internship at the Aperture Foundation as a fulfillment of her final year's requirements and was accepted. Educated as a Traveling Exhibitions Assistant in Aperture's Burden Gallery, she met with classical and contemporary photographers such as Eikoh Hosoe, Nick Waplington, Mary Ellen Mark, and was responsible for the care of the Limited Edition print collection. During her residence in New York, she made her first trip abroad to capture the timeless architecture of Paris, France.